[Morphologic verification in computer tomography of the brain]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Computer-aided tomography (CAT) is a key neuroimaging modality.
• Accurate diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies is vital.
• Correlation with post-mortem morphological data enhances diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of CAT scans of the brain with morphological findings.
• To evaluate CAT's effectiveness in diagnosing various brain pathologies including infarctions, hemorrhages, and tumors.
• To identify limitations and areas for improvement in CAT-based neurodiagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 51 autopsy cases.
• Comparison of pre-mortem CAT scans with post-mortem neuropathological examinations.
• Categorization of pathologies into infarctions, hemorrhages, and tumors.

Main Results:

• CAT accurately diagnosed cerebral infarctions >1-2 cm within 24 hours of onset.
• Difficulties were noted for small brainstem/cortical infarctions and hemorrhagic infarctions.
• Early hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis was precise, but later stages posed challenges.
• CAT showed high efficiency for brain tumors, with some limitations for multiple/small lesions.
• Morphological verification is essential for developing roentgenomorphological criteria.

Conclusions:

• CAT is a valuable tool for diagnosing brain infarctions and tumors, with specific limitations.
• Accurate diagnosis of hemorrhagic strokes requires careful interpretation, especially in later stages.
• Morphological correlation is indispensable for advancing the diagnostic capabilities of CAT in CNS pathology.