Radiologic and pathologic correlation of brain tumors

In a pathological tumor diagnosis, the patient?s age, tumor localization, tumor size and shape, its MR and CT images are evaluated with the operational specimen or biopsy?s microscopic features. In radiology, the presence of findings such as the localization of tumor, whether its holding contrast or not, its heterogenity, peri-tumoral edema or necrosis contributes the tumor?s pathological diagnosis. According to the radiological findings, the consistency or inconsistency between the histological grade and the pathological diagnosis found in biopsy affects the patient?s treatment. Therefore, the exact diagnosis can be reached by evaluating the radiological- pathological findings together.In this study, for the search of radiological-pathological correlation, total 176 brain tumors localized in intracranial intraaxial were investigated, which were diagnosed in The Black Sea Technical University Medicine Faculty Pathology Laboratory between 2007-2011. The preparates, which were belonging to 11 cases diagnosed grade 1 astrocytoma, 21 cases diagnosed grade 2 diffuse infiltrative astrocytoma, 11 cases diagnosed grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, 71 cases diagnosed grade 4 glıoblastoma, 13 cases diagnosed oligodendrogliom, 6 cases diagnosed ependimoma, 6 cases diagnosed medulloblastoma, 3 cases diagnosed lymphoma and 34 cases diagnosed metastasis, were reinvestigated and the diagnosis was confirmed. The pathological MR images and reports of these cases were re-evaluated with a radiologist. The pathologic cellular and radiologic intensity were compared right along with the pathologic vascularization and radiologic contrast. Statistically, sensitivity- specifity test was used in the pathological-radiological comparison of diagnosis, necrosis and calcification.In the comparison of pathological- radiological diagnosis, the sensitivity and specifity were found high. In the correlation of pathological and radiological necrosis, the sensitivity was 64.4% and the specifity was 96.5%. In the correlation of pathological and radiological calcification, the sensitivity was found 64.4% and the specifity was found 100%. A significant result couldn?t be obtained in the comparison of pathologic cellular and radiologic intensity. A direct proportion and a significant relation were detected in the comparison of pathologic vascularization and radiologic contrast.Generally, in this study, the consistency of radiologic- pathologic diagnosis was found at a higher rate. In conclusion, for the exact diagnosis and suitable treatment options in brain tumors, the close study of brain surgeons, radiologists and pathologists are necessary.