Application value of CT and MRI in diagnosis of primary brain lymphoma

Abstract

This study explored the correlation between computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) manifestations and pathological features of primary brain lymphoma to improve the diagnostic accuracy. A total of 230 patients with primary brain lymphoma admitted to People's Hospital of Rizhao from July, 2005 to December, 2016 were selected into the study and their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 87 patients were examined by CT, 74 patients by MRI, 69 patients by both MRI and CT. Features of MRI and CT scanning figures were observed with a focus on the density, number and margins of the lesions, and the diagnostic accuracy was analyzed. A total of 353 lesions were identified from 230 primary brain lymphoma patients, of which 224 were single lesions, and 129 were multiple lesions. Most lesions were on the upper curtain (81.3%, 187 cases) and 43 cases (18.7%) were on the lower curtain. Lesion signal of CT and MRI plain scan showed uniform state, and enhanced scan showed significantly enhanced signal. Diagnostic accuracy of CT was 82.8%, and sensitivity and specificity was 75.5 and 67.4%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI was 83.8%, and sensitivity and specificity was 79.3 and 64.9%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI combined with CT was 89.9%, and sensitivity and specificity was 86.3 and 75.8%, respectively. CT combined with MRI can provide better diagnosis for primary brain lymphoma compared with CT or MRI alone, but pathological test is still needed.

Keywords: application; computed tomography; diagnosis; magnetic resonance imaging; primary brain lymphoma.

Figure 1.

ROC curve analysis. AUC was 0.726 (95% CI, 0.215–2.337) for MRI; 0.785 (95% CI, 0.616–1.242) for CT; and 0.845 (95% CI, 0.145–4.632) for CT combined with MRI. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 79.3 and 64.9%, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CT were 75.5 and 67.4%, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of MRI combined with CT were 86.3 and 75.8%, respectively. CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CI, confidence interval.