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Metastatic Solitary Malignant Brain Tumor: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis

Part of the book series: Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis ((HAYAT,volume 8))

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Abstract

Brain metastasis is the second most common brain tumor in adults and still is a very common and devastating clinical problem for both cancer patients and treating physicians. Precise diagnosis of solitary brain metastasis is crucial for proper treatment planning and can directlyaffect patient morbidity and mortality. Although computed tomography is widely used for tumor diagnosis due to easy accessibility and low cost, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the method of choice for screening and differential diagnosis of solitary metastasis because of higher contrast resolution and availability of advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion-weighted and diffusion-tensor imaging, MR spectroscopy, perfusion and functional MR imaging. Major differential diagnosis of solitary metastasis includes high-grade glioma. Higher peritumoral rCBV values and Cho/Cr ratios of infiltrative gliomas, indicating existence of tumorcells, help to differentiate them from non-infiltrative metastasis. In conclusion, although the diagnosis of solitary brain tumors is still somewhat problematic, advanced MR imaging techniques provide valuable information to overcome the diagnostic hindrance and to increase effectiveness in therapy monitoring.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Military Medical Faculty, Etlik, 06018, Ankara, Turkey

    Nail Bulakbasi & Murat Kocaoglu

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  1. Nail Bulakbasi
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  2. Murat Kocaoglu
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Correspondence to Nail Bulakbasi .

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  1. Dept. Biological Sciences, Kean University, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M. A. Hayat

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Bulakbasi, N., Kocaoglu, M. (2011). Metastatic Solitary Malignant Brain Tumor: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis. Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8665-5_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8665-5_24

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