The doctor does a complete physical exam with special attention to neurological examination. This includes checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes for swelling caused by a tumor ...
How is a Brain Tumor Diagnosed? | ||
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| The doctor does a complete physical exam with special attention to neurological examination. This includes checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes for swelling caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and the brain.
The doctor may request a CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of the brain. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an X-ray machine. Sometimes dyes are injected into to help show differences in the tissue of the brain. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) gives pictures using a powerful magnet linked to a computer. An MRI is helpful in diagnosing brain tumors because it can "see" through the bone of the skull to the tissue underneath. A dye may also be used to enhance the likelihood of detecting the tumor. An MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopic) is a non-invasive method that can be used with MRI to provide information about cellular activity and degree of malignancy. A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is a computerized imaging procedure that can help find cancer cells in the body.
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