Radiology, Vol 142, 663-668, Copyright © 1982 by Radiological Society of North America
Dynamics of contrast enhancement in delayed computed tomography of brain tumors: tissue-blood ratio and differential diagnosis
N Takeda, R Tanaka, O Nakai and K Ueki
Thirty-one patients with brain tumors were studied by delayed computed
tomographic (CT) scanning performed one and two hours after intravenous
administration of contrast medium. Dynamics of contrast enhancement in the
lesion were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by calculating the
tissue-blood ratio (TBR) at each scan, and are expressed as relative TBR
(R-TBR). The R-TBRs obtained two hours after the first contrast-enhanced
scan were found to be most useful in diagnosis, and were classified into
three groups: less than 1.5 (Class I), 1.5 to 3.0 (Class II), and more than
3.0 (Class III). In the glioma group, seven of eight anaplastic gliomas
were Class III and all of three anaplastic astrocytomas were Class II. All
of seven meningiomas were Class I. Four of five pituitary adenomas were
Class II. Three of four neurinomas were Class III. This method is
potentially useful in differential diagnosis of some brain tumors.
