Admission criteria to the Danish Brain Cancer Program are moderately associated with magnetic resonance imaging...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Danish Brain Cancer Program by examining the criteria for admission to the program and the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in 359 patients referred to the program at the Odense University Hospital during one year. The admission criteria given by the Danish Health and Medicines Authority are as follows: 1. Prior computed tomography or MRI indicating tumour. 2. Progressive focal neurological deficits. 3. Epileptic seizure in adults. 4. Change in behaviour or cognition showing progression. 5. Headache with progression over 3-4 weeks.

This was a retrospective analysis of the cerebral MRI of 359 patients. The patients were categorized by admission criteria and MRI outcome. The findings were grouped into four main outcomes: 1. Primary malignant intracerebral tumour. 2. Intracranial tumour -(including meningeoma and metastasis). 3. Acute pathology in total (including tumours and other acute pathologies). 4. Findings of no consequence.

We found 46 acute/subacute pathologies including 21 tumours of which eight were primary intracerebral malignant tumours and 313 scans did not have findings of any consequence. In the group with monosymptomatic headache, we found significantly fewer tumours (p = 0.0066, Fisher's exact test) and acute pathologies (p = 0.0008) than in the remaining groups. In the group with change in behaviour or cognition, we found significantly more primary intracerebral malignant tumours (p = 0.0002), tumours in all (p = 0.0001) and acute pathologies (p = 0.0002) than in the other groups.

Fewer tumours than expected were found. Significantly fewer pathologies were found in the group with monosymptomatic headache than in the remaining groups.

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