Space occupying lesions of central nervous system: A radiological-histopathological correlation study

Radiological imaging modalities are important pre-operative diagnostic tools to detect the central nervous system [CNS] lesion. Radiological findings can be used by pathologists to narrow down the differential diagnoses. Radiological diagnosis requires confirmation by histopathology

To study various patterns of central nervous system [CNS] lesions in histopathology

To correlate radiological diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis.

To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of radiological diagnosis.

Analytical study at tertiary care hospital.

Eighty eight cases were analyzed. Histopathological evaluation was done from biopsy samples sent in formalin. Tissue processing was done by standard operating procedure. Tissue sections were routinely stained by H&E. Special stains were performed in selected cases. Radiological diagnosis was correlated with histopathological diagnosis and concordance was calculated.

Frequencies, Chi-Square Test and Crosstabs were used for calculation.

Histopathological diagnosis of eighty eight cases included neoplastic lesions [90.9%] and non-neoplastic lesions [9.09%]. Correct diagnosis was achieved by radiology in 36 cases [45%] by complete concordance. However, diagnostic accuracy improved considerably [85%] after applying partial concordance criteria. For the detection of neoplastic lesions, radiological diagnosis had sensitivity of 96.25%, specificity of 50% and efficacy of 92.04%. The p value, determining efficacy of radiological investigations for detecting CNS neoplasms was statistically significant [p<0.005].

Radiological investigation is a reliable diagnostic tool for space occupying central nervous system lesions. It has high sensitivity and is highly efficacious investigative modality.