Diagnostic brain scans

Scans provide a detailed 3D image of the brain by taking multiple pictures of the inside of your head. Scans are used during diagnosis. They allow doctors to see whether there is a tumour and, if there is, its size and position.

Scans are also used for monitoring during and after treatment.

The two scans that are most commonly used are:

CT scans

CT stands for Computerised Tomography. You may also sometimes hear doctors referring to CT scans as CAT scans - these are the same thing.

CT scanners use x-rays to build up the 3D image of the inside of your head. They take several cross-sectional pictures through your head, then use a computer to stack these 2D picture 'slices' into a 3D image.

MRI scans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, uses magnetic fields, rather than x-rays to build up the 3D image of your brain. MRI scanners take pictures from several angles around you head, then build these into a 3D image.

Brain scan procedure

The procedure for both CT and MRI scans is very similar.

For some people, the thought of having a scan can cause fear and anxiety – either about:

• being in the scanner (I get claustrophobic. What is it going to be like?)
• waiting for the results (has the tumour have grown or returned?)

These feelings are often called ‘scanxiety’ (scan anxiety).

How to cope with scanxiety

Before the scan

You will need to take off anything metal e.g. glasses, earrings, hairclips.

If you are having an MRI scan, you will be asked if you have a pacemaker, any implants, such as a programmable shunt or skull section, or if you are likely to have any metal in your body due to working in the steel or metal industries. If you have, then an MRI may not be suitable for you as it uses magnetic fields to take images. Your radiographer will be able to tell you more.

Fillings in your teeth and braces are fine, but tell your radiographer about them.

You are likely to be given a 'contrast medium' (via an injection or drink) that enables a clearer image to be given from the scan.

This may make you feel warm all over. Some people have reported feeling cold after having the contrast medium.

During the scan

• You will lie, usually on your back, on the flat bed that is part of the scanner
• the CT scanner is shaped like a doughnut or ring, with a round hole in the middle – this is where your head will go
• the MRI scanner is more cylindrical and your head and shoulders will lie within it.
• During the scan, you need to lie very still. Staff will leave the room, but will be nearby. They can see and hear you, and you can hear them.
• You can breathe normally during the scan.
• The scan isn't painful, but during the scan, you will hear noises from the scanner when it is taking pictures
• for a CT scan, this will be a soft humming and clicks
• for an MRI scan, this will be very loud banging and clanging noises.

You will probably be given headphones. You can usually take music to play through the headphones 

If you tend to get claustrophobic, it is a good idea to let staff know before the day of your scan

After the scan

• After the scan, you will usually be allowed to go straight home. If you have needed a sedative to calm you, the hospital staff will first check that it is safe for you to do so. You should arrange for a friend or relative to accompany you and to take you home afterwards.
• You should be given a time frame for receiving your test results.

What other types of scan might I have?

There are some other types of scan that may be used to diagnose a brain tumour, or to find out more about a diagnosed tumour. These include:

• PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans
• SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computerised Tomography) scans
• fMRI (functional MRI scan)
• Specialised MRI scans.