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Glioma CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2], Sujit Routray, M.D. [3]

Overview

Head CT scan may be diagnostic of glioma. The CT scan findings of glioma vary with the tumor grade and type.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

CT

  • Head CT scan may be diagnostic of glioma.
  • The CT scan findings of glioma vary with the tumor grade and type. Common findings are listed below:[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Type of glioma CT scan findings

Pilocytic astrocytoma

1. Large cystic component with a brightly enhancing mural nodule (67%)
  • Non enhancing cyst wall (21%)
  • Enhancing cyst wall (46%)
2. Heterogeneous, mixed solid and multiple cysts and central necrosis (16%)
3. Completely solid (17%)

Low-grade astrocytoma

1. Isodense or hypodense
2. Positive mass effect
3. No enhancement
4. Calcification is rare
5. Cystic component

Anaplastic astrocytoma

1. Variable enhancement
2. Regions of low attenuation
3. Positive mass effect

Glioblastoma multiforme

1. Irregular thick margins: iso- to slightly hyperattenuating (high cellularity)
2. Irregular hypodense centre representing necrosis
3. Marked mass effect
4. Surrounding vasogenic edema
5. Hemorrhage
6. Calcification is rare

Oligodendroglioma

1. Hypodense to isodense
2. Calcification (70-90%)
3. Hemorrhage
4. Overlying skull may show pressure erosion

Ependymoma

1. Coarse calcification is common (50%)
2. Cystic areas (50%)
3. Iso- to hypodense solid component
4. Heterogeneous enhancement
5. Hemorrhage


Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology


  • Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; with contrast
    Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; with contrast
  • Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 1 of 4 with contrast
    Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 1 of 4 with contrast
  • Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 2 of 4 with contrast
    Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 2 of 4 with contrast
  • Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 3 of 4 with contrast
    Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 3 of 4 with contrast
  • Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 4 of 4 with contrast
    Brain: Glioma, Opticochiasmatic; 4 of 4 with contrast

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Radiological findings of pilocytic astrocytoma. Dr Bruno Di Muzio and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia.org 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/pilocytic-astrocytoma
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Radiological findings of low grade infiltrative astrocytoma. Dr Henry Knipe and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/low-grade-infiltrative-astrocytoma
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Radiological findings of anaplastic astrocytoma. Dr Bruno Di Muzio and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/anaplastic-astrocytoma
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Radiological findings of glioblastoma. Dr Dylan Kurda and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/glioblastoma
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Radiological findings of oligodendroglioma. Dr Henry Knipe and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/oligodendroglioma
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Radiological findings of ependymoma. Dr Bruno Di Muzio and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia.org 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/ependymoma


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