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Computed Tomography of Metastatic Disease of the Brain

  • Chapter
Brain Metastasis

Part of the book series: Metastasis: A Monograph Series ((METS,volume 2))

Abstract

Development of the new method of radiologic diagnosis known as computed tomography (CT), computer-assisted tomography or computerized axial tomography (CAT) by Hounsfield (1973) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of cranial and intracranial metastatic disease. Since installation of a CT scanner at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in December 1975, approximately 9,500 patient examinations have been performed, 60% of which were examinations of the skull and brain. During the period of December 1,1975 to August 15,1978, 460 patients were found to have CT appearances consistent with intracerebral or calvarial metastases. Computed tomography is, without question, the technique of choice for the diagnosis of metastatic disease of the brain and skull vault, and this dominant role is reflected by a significant decrease in other diagnostic procedures such as plain skull radiography, radionuclide brain scanning, electroencephalography, and cerebral arteriography (table 12.1). The decrease in these diagnostic modalities has occurred despite an increase in the number of patients seen and treated by the Department of Neurology and the Division of Neurosurgery.

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Deck, M.D.F. (1980). Computed Tomography of Metastatic Disease of the Brain. In: Weiss, L., Gilbert, H.A., Posner, J.B. (eds) Brain Metastasis. Metastasis: A Monograph Series, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8799-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8799-9_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8801-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8799-9

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