[Computed tomographic brain scanning in the diagnosis of metastatic neoplasms (author's transl)]

Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1981 Nov 20;106(47):1566-71. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1070555.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Clinical investigations and computed brain scanning were done in 305 patients with primary extracerebral malignant tumours. One third of the patients had cerebral metastases. In most patients with brain metastases extracerebral secondary tumours were known already. Silent brain metastases were present in only 0.6% of all investigated tumour patients. All other patients had either objective neurologic-psychiatric defects or a least symptoms (headache, vomiting). Use of cranial computed tomography in all tumour patients as a pure screening method is thus not justified. The indication for the investigation is dependent on the clinical symptomatology. However, not only objective neurologic-psychiatric defects must be taken into account, but also occurrence of new symptoms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*