Primary Brain Tumor

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Primary Brain Tumor Diagnosis & Tests

Examination often shows focal (isolated location) or general neurologic changes that are specific to the location of the tumor. Some tumors may not show symptoms until they are very large and cause rapid neurologic decline, others are characterized by slowly progressive symptoms. Most brain tumors will include signs typical of space-occupying masses (aggregations of cells) which cause increased intracranial pressure and compression of brain tissue.

The diagnosis may be confirmed, and the tumor localized, by:

• CT scan of the head
• MRI of the head
• Angiography of the head
• EEG may reveal focal (localized) abnormalities.
• Examination of tissue removed from the tumor during surgery or CT scan-guided biopsy is used to confirm the exact type of tumor.
• Examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) may reveal cancerous cells.

This disease may also alter the results of a CPK isoenzymes test.