Contents:

A Introduction

Technique of CT Examination

Autochthonous Brain Tumors

Meningeal Tumors

Neurinomas

Pituitary Adenomas

Tumors of the Blood Wessels

Dysontogenetic Tumors

Computed Tomography in Processes at the Base of the Skull and

F Computed Tomography in Nonneoplastic SpaceOccupying Intracranial

Acute Demyelinating Diseases

Parasites

Vascular Malformations

Brain Infarction

G Computed Tomography in Orbital Lesions

H Effect of Computed Tomography on Diagnosis of Neurological Disease

Intracranial Tumors of Skeletal Origin

Locally Invasive Tumors

Subject Index

The current book represents a distillation of the experience gained in diagnosis of intracranial tumors with computed X-ray tomography at the University Hos pitals of Berlin, Mainz, and Miinchen. To what purpose? Standard radiological techniques such as pneumoencephalography with lumbar puncture and cerebral arteriography with puncture of the common carotid artery are invasive proce dures which entail a certain amount of risk as well as discomfort for the patient. Furthermore, diagnoses made with these procedures rely primarily on indirect signs of an intracranial space-occupying lesion - such as displacement of the air-filled ventricles or of normal cerebral vessels. Only a few types of tumor are demonstrated directly with these techniques. In contrast, computed tomography demonstrates the pathology directly in almost all cases, and this with a minimum of risk and discomfort. In addition, normal intracranial structures are demonstrated, so that the tumor's effect on its surroundings can be evaluated. Today, almost a decade after HOUNSFIELD'S revolutionary invention, diagno sis of brain tumors without computed tomography is almost unthinkable, if not in fact irresponsible. Common terms and phrases: acoustic neurinoma Anaplastic astrocytoma aneurysm arrow artery brain abscess brain stem brain tumors calcification carcinoma cell cerebellopontine angle cerebral hemispheres cistern Computed Tomography contrast medium contrast medium uptake contrast studies Coronary projections cranial CT findings CT scan CT studies cystic demonstrate density values dermoid Differential Diagnosis dilatation displacement ependymoma extension falx female foramen fourth ventricle glioblastoma gliomas grade hancement hematoma hemorrhage histological homogeneous contrast hydrocephalus hypodense zone increase in density infarction isodense large cyst lateral ventricle lipoma male malformation Malignant lymphoma medulloblastoma meningioma metastases necrosis neurinoma oligodendroglioma optic nerve patient perifocal edema Pilocytic astrocytoma pineal pituitary adenoma Postcontrast study Fig posterior fossa precontrast CT precontrast study left rare region sella sharply delineated sinus skull films slightly hyperdense solid tumor space-occupying lesion sphenoid wing suprasellar temporal lobe third ventricle tion trast study tumor Fig tumor nodule tumor tissue Typical locations vascular ventricular vermis white matter