The role of CT body scans in the investigation of patients with newly diagnosed brain tumours

Abstract

Objective. In the UK approximately 4000 patients are diagnosed with brain tumours each year. Many patients undergo CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis as part of the investigation of such tumours. We aimed to determine the value of CT body scans in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumours. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the minutes of our neuro-oncology multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings over a 12-month period to identify patients with a new radiological diagnosis of a brain tumour. Patients were divided into groups based on radiological diagnosis. Histology results were obtained for patients who underwent surgery. Results of CT body scans were obtained. Results. A total of 261 patients were identified. Sixty percent had radiological primary brain tumours and 40% had secondary brain tumours. Concordance between radiological and histological diagnoses was high (97% for radiological primary brain tumours, and 83% for radiological secondary brain tumours). CT body scans demonstrated primary lesions in 90% of radiological secondary brain tumours. Thirty-four percent of patients with a radiological diagnosis of primary brain tumour underwent CT body scans. The majority of these scans were normal (78%). Conclusion. The ability of a specialist neuro-oncology MDT to correctly identify primary and secondary brain tumours on initial imaging is high. If the radiological diagnosis is of a secondary brain tumour, then CT body scans are essential. If the radiological diagnosis is of a primary brain tumour, then CT scans of the body are likely to add little to patient management.

Keywords::

• brain tumours
• CT scan
• glioblastoma multiforme
• histology

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the specialists within our neuro-oncology MDT and their contribution to this paper by the production of the MDT minutes. We also wish to acknowledge the work of Dr Calvin Soh and his neuroradiology colleagues who were involved in the production of the radiology reports.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.