Computed tomography in the differential diagnosis of low-density intracranial lesions.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings of low-density lesions of the brain were compared with the pathologic nature of the lesions. Twenty-one lesions having densities uniformly lower than those of the normal brain, most of which showing no significant early enhancement effect, were selected. Such lesions were either cystic non-neoplastic lesions, cystic tumors, solid tumors or solid but non-neoplastic lesions. Although CT proved to be the single, most sensitive diagnostic method detecting such low-density lesions, it was often difficult or even impossible to differentiate cystic from solid, or neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions based on the CT features alone.