Brain & Spinal Cord Cancers: Diagnosis
There are no screening tests to detect central nervous system tumors early. If a brain tumor is suspected, you will be referred to a neurologist or neurosurgeon. After a preliminary neurological examination and consideration of your symptoms, your doctor may request computerized tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to determine if more definitive procedures are needed. Other studies, such as X-ray films of the head and skull, an electroencephalogram (EEG) or radioisotopic brain scans, may also be performed. A biopsy of the tumor tissue, removal of the tumor or, in some cases, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may also be performed to provide a definitive diagnosis.