Serial Computed Tomography of Primary Brain Tumors Following Surgery, Irradiation, and Chemotherapy

Abstract

Patients (55) with primary brain tumors were studied by CT [computed tomography] scans before, during and after treatment to determine chronological changes in morphology. Pretreatment scans showed decreased density in most glioblastomas and low grade astrocytomas and normal density in most unbiopsied tumors and optic nerve gliomas. All glioblastomas and 40% of the astrocytomas were enhanced by contrast material, suggesting that the latter tumor can be divided into 2 prognostic categories based on the presence or absence of enhancement. Lesion size regressed after treatment in 62% of patients, stabilized in 29% and progressed in 9%. CT findings correlated with the clinical course in 93% of cases. Of the tumors, 73% persisted, 20% disappeared and 7% recurred after a mean follow-up of 10.1 mo.