The complete method for determining the presence of a brain or spine tumor includes:
The medical or neurological exam entails a series of tests which measures nervous system functions and physical and mental alertness. If the results of this exam are abnormal, a brain or spine scan will be administered by a neurological expert.
A brain or spine scan consists of a picture of internal structures. A specialized imaging machine produces a scan in a manner similar to a digital camera taking a photo. With the use of computer technology, a scan creates an image by photographing the brain or spine from various angles.
Some scans use contrast dye injected into the patient’s vein, which assists the neurosurgeon in differentiating between normal and abnormal tissue. Abnormal or diseased brain or spine tissue absorbs greater amounts of dye than healthy tissue.
A biopsy is the final step in diagnosing a brain or spine tumor. Tumors are classified from the least aggressive (benign) to the most aggressive (malignant).
The cell type of origin or the location of the tumor determines the classification of a brain tumor. Identifying the type of tumor determines the most appropriate type of treatment.
Radiological tests are required for an accurate and positive brain and spine tumor diagnosis. Below are the most common radiological tests used for diagnosing brain and spinal tumors.
X-rays may be used for the spine to search for potential causes of pain (e.g., tumors, infections, and fractures). It can also show if any vertebrae are compressing your spinal cord, and to evaluate spine alignment.
X-rays show the structure of the vertebrae and the outline of the joints. However, X-rays are not reliable in diagnosing tumors.
CT scans can show soft tissue, bone and blood vessels combined. As such, CT images can detect abnormalities, swelling, bleeding and bone and tissue calcification, as well as being effective in determining some types of brain and spine tumors.
The CT scan is a combination of advanced x-ray and computer technology, usually with the use of iodine as a contrast agent. A CT/CAT scan is the diagnostic image created after a computer reads the X-ray, combining various x-ray angles to produce a detailed, three-dimensional image.
For example:
If a patient cannot have an MRI, for example people with a pacemaker, a CT may be used instead.
Neurosurgeons use PET scans to look at organs and tissues. PET scans can determine the difference between scar tissue, recurring tumor cells, and necrosis (i.e. cells destroyed by radiation treatments).
The PET scan creates a picture of the brain or spine by measuring the rate at which a tumor absorbs glucose (a sugar), which is typically faster than normal cells. This is in contrast to the other imaging techniques, which measure the structure of a brain or spine tumor.
In the case of a PET scan, the patient is injected with deoxyglucose, a substance labeled with radioactive markers. The PET scan relays the measured brain or spine activity to a computer, which creates a live image.
The MRI uses magnetic fields and computers to scan and capture images of the brain. While it utilizes film, it does not use x-rays.
The scan provides images of various planes, which allows the doctor to create a three-dimensional image of the tumor. An MRI detects signals emitted from both normal and abnormal tissue, which results in clear images of most tumors.
An MRI can show the spinal cord, nerve roots and surrounding areas, as well as enlargement, degeneration, and tumors.
After radiological confirmation of the brain tumor, the only way to determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant is to examine a small tissue sample (extracted through a biopsy procedure) under a microscope. If the tumor is malignant, a biopsy helps determine the cancer’s type, which also determines treatment options.
The biopsy, the most accurate method of obtaining a tumor diagnosis, is administered to determine the type and grade of a tumor.
A biopsy surgically removes a sample of tissue taken from a tumor site in order to be examined under a microscope. The biopsy provides information on the types of abnormal cells present in the tumor.
There are two types of brain biopsy used for diagnosis:
For spinal tumor biopsies, many are performed using minimally invasive techniques, where a CT scan is used to guide a thin needle into the tumor or surrounding areas.
Once a biopsy sample is obtained, a pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope in order to analyze the brain or spine tissue and make a diagnosis.
If necessary, due to a complicated case or one in which there is more than one grade of tumor cells located in the same tumor, the tissue is sent on for further expert analysis.