Results of nuclear magnetic resonance with cerebral glioma. Comparison with computed tomography.

Our experience using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in eight patients with abnormalities on computed tomography (CT) scans suggesting glioma is reported. Three patients underwent biopsies. Two patients had grade II astrocytomas. Difficulty was encountered confirming the diagnosis of astrocytoma on frozen sections in one patient, and permanent sections were required for diagnosis in the other. The third patient to undergo biopsy had a grade III anaplastic mixed glioma. Biopsy of subsequent patients with probable gliomas was not done because of the risk of producing neurological deficit. The NMR images suggest that lower-grade astrocytomas are well circumscribed, whereas higher-grade gliomas affect adjacent association bundles by direct extension of tumor cells or vasogenic edema.