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- Imaging
- Laboratory
- CT scan - It is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses x-rays to build cross-sectional images of the brain.
- MRI - A tool that uses the interaction of radio waves and magnetic field, which is processed in a high-speed computer system to produce scan pictures and aids in a detailed, informative study about the brain tissue, its blood supply, location, extent and the nature of the tumor. Special sequences like contrast study (special dye injected through the veins), perfusion and diffusion are used to charecterize the brain lesion better.
- PET – CT - It is a tool used to provide more information in the case of solitary brain lesions to rule out whether it is a primary brain tumor or metastases from other organs.
- Pathology
- CT or MRI guided Tissue Biopsy - A biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of a brain tumor. The tissue collected is sent to pathology to help in staging and identification of the type of malignancy. The different pathological evaluations are Cytology, Histopathological Examination (HPE) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).
- Blood Test
- Neuron specific enolase (NSE) -Patients diagnosed with neuroblastomas and malignant gliomas have high serum levels of NSE