Astrocytoma CT
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [3]
Overview
CT findings
CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of astrocytoma. Findings on CT scan suggestive of astrocytoma include:
- In low grade astrocytoma:
- Poorly demarcated mass
- Low density
- No inhancement inside the tumor
- In few cases we might see some calcification and cystic changes inside the mass
- In high grade astrocytoma:
- Poorly demarcated mass
- Low density
- There are partial enhancement inside the tumor mass
Low grade infiltrative astrocytoma[2]
- Typically low grade infiltrating astrocytomas appear as isodense or hypodense regions of positive mass effect, often without any enhancement (in fact presence of enhancement would suggest high tumors), although particularly gemistocytic astrocytomas can demonstrates wispy enhancement.
- Calcification is not seldom (10-20% of cases)1 and may be related to oligodendroglial components (i.e oligoastrocytoma).
- Cystic or fluid attenuation components are also encountered, particularly in gemistocytic and protoplasmic varieties.
Anaplastic astrocytomas[3]
- CT appearances are intermediate, appearing as regions of low attenuation with positive mass effect. Enhancement is variable.