Diagnostic accuracy of MRI in intracranial gliomas

Abstract

Introduction MRI provides excellent anatomic detail and has emerged as the optimal imaging tool for brain tumours. In this study, patients with an MRI diagnosis of glioma were reviewed in a prospective/ retrospective study carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital and Plaza Imaging Centre between January and July. All patients included in the study had correlating histopathologic data acquired following surgery/biopsy of the lesion. The MR! diagnosis and histological data formed the basis of this study. Objectives The purpose of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of MRl for the diagnosis of intracranial gliomas. Study Design anti Method This retrospective and prospective study was done at KNH X-Ray Department and Plaza Imaging Centre within a 6 month period from January 20 I 0 to July 2010. Consecutive patients with an MRI diagnosis of glioma during the study period were included. Ilistopathology reports for all patients who subsequently underwent surgery/ biopsy were requisitioned from the Pathology department. Data for the retrospective cases was acquired from the radiology and pathology departments. Results A total of 109 patients were assessed in this study, 59 males and 50 females. Their ages ranged from 2 to 87 years. The results obtained showed that conventional MRI provided a correct diagnosis in 87.4 % of cases reviewed. Conclusion The results obtained in this study show that conventional MRI is an optimal tool for the diagnosis of intracranial gliomas.