Early Brain Tumor Detection with MRI in Primary Health Care Setup - Can it be used as a Screening Modality?

Abstract

Background: MRI is an advanced technique in medical techniques that is used as best technique for the learning of human brain. The MRI usually describes health disorders, tumors, blood capillaries etc. Brain tumor is the most common disorder of brain detected by MRI and quickly diagnosed.

Objective: Brain tumors are common in children and the older population; however, they may occur at any age. Primary brain tumors benign or malignant arise from the brain parenchyma and its surrounding tissues.

Methodology: Five busy private primary care clinics were contacted and requested the data on MRI brain findings done for any medical reason over 2 years from January 2020 to December 2021. The total number of patients sent from all clinics for MRI was 28.

Results: The median age is 64 years in adults. 15 patients (53.57%) came with severe unusual headaches, five female patients (17.85%) came with nipple discharge, 8 patients (28.57%) presented with sudden histories of seizures, and 3(10.71%) were diagnosed as microadenoma of the pituitary gland.  Of these symptomatic 28 patients, 3 patients (10.71%) were diagnosed with brain tumors after performing MRI. The specificity (100%), Sensitivity (100%), PPV (100%), NPV (100%) of MRI for brain tumor detection were calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval by using MedCalc statistical software.

Conclusion: It is concluded that early diagnosis of brain tumor with MRI is essential for a definitive treatment plan. It is therefore recommended that MRI should be encouraged at primary health care facilities and early referral to neurosurgery.

Keywords: Brain Tumor, early detection, MRI, histopathology, biopsy