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Can Brain Tumor be Diagnosed Using a CT scan

Can Brain Tumor be Diagnosed Using a CT scan

Can Brain Tumor be Diagnosed Using a CT scan?

Table Of Contents:

  • Introduction
  • What is Brain Tumor?
  • Symptoms of Brain Tumor
  • How a Brain Tumor is Diagnosed?
  • Do Brain Tumors Show up on CT scans?
  • Which is the Best scan for Brain MRI or CT Scans?
  • Can Brain Tumor be Cured?
  • Conclusion

Introduction

The human brain, the epicenter of our thoughts, emotions, and actions, is a complex organ. However, its delicate balance can be disrupted by the presence of a brain tumor, and an abnormal growth of cells within or near the brain. These tumors can be of various types, causing significant health challenges. While there is no exact cause of brain tumors remains a mystery, factors such as exposure to radiation, genetic predispositions, and even prior cancer treatments can cause the development of brain tumors. The brain tumor must be found first to get treated and for that CT scans are one of the medical imaging processes to find it. Get aware of brain tumors and learn if they can be diagnosed using a CT scan or not, from here. 

What is Brain Tumor?

The abnormal growth in the brain due to cancerous or non-cancerous cells is called a brain tumor. The growth of these cells can be inside the brain or near it. This is caused due to exposure to large amounts of X-rays or because of your previous cancer treatments. There are also cases where genes are the only cause of brain tumors. A brain tumor can either start from your brain or from the cancer cells that spread to your brain. 

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

  • Headaches
  • Seizures
  • Change in vision, hearing, speech, or memory
  • Personality or Behaviour change
  • Weakness, numbness, or loss of sensation in your arms or legs.
  • Difficulty in thinking, speaking, or finding words
  • Loss of balance, muscle weakness, or difficulty in walking.

How a Brain Tumor is Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a brain tumor includes neurological exams, brain scans, and biopsy. Your healthcare provider will perform many tests, scans and to find if the patient has a brain tumor or not. Further, a biopsy is conducted to take a part of the tumor cells and test if they are cancerous or noncancerous. Further tests are done to find changes in the tumor cell’s DNA, which helps specific treatment plans for the patient.


  • Neurological Exam: Neurological tests are done to find if the patient is having any problems with their balance, hearing, vision, and reflexes. 
  • Medical Imaging Tests: To identify where the brain tumor is, the patient needs to undergo MRI scans. For additional information about the tumor and your brain function CT scans and X-rays are included.
  • Biopsy: A tissue sample of the brain tumor is extracted and sent to laboratory analysis to assign the grade of the tumor and to find its growth rate and aggressiveness.

Do Brain Tumors Show up on CT scans?

Yes, brain tumors can be found using a CT scan. It uses X-rays to create a 3-dimensional image of your brain, providing you with the exact location of the tumor cells. This medical imaging technique helps healthcare professionals decide what the next step should be to cure the brain tumor. 

Which is the Best scan for Brain MRI or CT Scans?

The best medical imaging technique to find brain tumors is MRI, but both have their advantages and disadvantages. While MIR scans can provide better image quality, it is slower than CT scans. For faster medical imaging processes during emergencies, CT scans are most recommended. For the initial screening process, CT scans are used to detect brain tumors, if the results are unsure, then an MRI scan is used for further evaluation.

Can Brain Tumor be Cured?

Treatment for brain tumors or challenging and it is not always possible to cure it. There are also other options to manage symptoms and slow or stop the growth of the tumor cells. The treatment for your brain tumor depends on various aspects like,

  • Are the tumor cells cancerous or noncancerous?
  • What is the type, size, and grade of the tumor cell?
  • Where is the tumor cell located?
  • What is the overall health of the patient?

After knowing about brain tumors, medical professionals can recommend treatment methods like,

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Clinical trials

Sometimes, a combination of these treatments is used depending on the patient’s condition. Once the brain tumor is cured patients are provided with rehabilitation to regain function in the part of the brain that had the tumor. 

Conclusion

Brain tumors, whether cancerous or not, pose significant health challenges. Early detection is crucial, and CT scans are effective in locating these growths. While MRI scans offer better image quality, CT scans are faster, making them suitable for initial screenings and emergencies. Treatment varies based on various factors and changes from person to person. Although a complete cure isn’t always possible, the focus is on symptom management and improving the quality of life. Once you are out of a brain tumor, rehabilitation can get you back to your way of life. The battle against brain tumors goes on, driven by research and a commitment to enhancing patients’ lives.