Surgical oncology clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging plays a crucial role in diagnosis of brain tumors and in the decision-making process for therapy. Functional imaging techniques can reflect cellular density (diffusion imaging), capillary density (perfusion techniques), and tissue biochemistry (magnetic resonance [MR] spectroscopy). ⋯ Familiarity with conventional and advanced imaging findings facilitates accurate diagnosis, differentiation from other processes, and optimal patient treatment. This article is a practical synopsis of pathologic, clinical, and imaging spectra of most common brain tumors.
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Computed tomography (CT) is the primary imaging modality for the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of most thoracic cavity tumors. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT has established itself as a supplementary tool to CT in lung cancer staging and in the assessment for distant metastases of many thoracic tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important adjunctive imaging modality in thoracic oncologic imaging and is used as a problem-solving tool to assess for chest wall invasion, intraspinal extension, and cardiac/vascular invasion. Imaging can facilitate minimally invasive biopsy of most thoracic tumors and is vital in the pretreatment planning of radiation therapy.