Analysis of Brain Scan Patterns in Cerebral Ischemia and Astrocytoma

SCINTILLATION scanning of the brain has gained wide acceptance as a diagnostic tool in the detection of nonneoplastic as well as neoplastic intracranial lesions. 1-4 The ability to distinguish between cerebrovascular disease and neoplastic lesions is important. We have compared brain scans of patients with astrocytic neoplasms and cerebrovascular disease to determine which scan characteristics, if any, would enable us to separate these two classes of lesions. Material and Methods Patients. —From October 1964 to January 1966, 64 consecutive patients with astrocytic neoplasms or cerebrovascular infarct or ischemia had positive brain scans. Of these patients 32 had astrocytomas (grades 1-4) proved at surgery or necropsy. There were 32 patients who had proved or probable cerebrovascular infarct or ischemia. The diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease in those cases not proved histologically was based on clinical findings, course of the disease, and other diagnostic studies such as cerebral arteriography or electroencephalography. Radioactive Pharmaceurical.