Comparative Analysis of MRI and CT Scan for the Diagnosis of Brain Tumor, Considering MRI as Gold Standard

Abstract

Background: Brain tumors pose a significant diagnostic challenge due to their diverse presentation and potential severity. While both MRI and CT scans are routinely employed in clinical settings, MRI is widely regarded as the gold standard for brain tumor evaluation due to its superior soft tissue resolution. However, real-world comparative data on their diagnostic accuracy, especially in resource-constrained settings, remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI versus CT scan for the detection of brain tumors, considering MRI as the gold standard, and to evaluate their clinical utility in identifying specific brain lesion locations. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 20 patients (n = 20) with suspected brain tumors at the National Hospital, Faisalabad, from February to May. Inclusion criteria included adults of either gender undergoing both CT and MRI; patients with contraindications to MRI or contrast allergy were excluded. CT scans were performed using a Toshiba Aquilion 64-slice scanner, and MRIs were conducted with a Toshiba Canon Titan 1.5T system. Data were collected using a standardized performa and analyzed using SPSS v26. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using cross-tabulations and Chi-square testing. Ethical standards were maintained per the Declaration of Helsinki with informed consent obtained from all participants. Results: MRI detected brain tumors in 60% of cases compared to 50% by CT. MRI identified more paraventricular lesions (62.5% vs. 17.6%) and frontal-occipital-temporal abnormalities (60.0% vs. 50.0%). Sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 100.0% and 80.0%, respectively. Chi-square testing confirmed statistical significance (χ² = 13.333, p < 0.001), establishing MRI's clinical superiority for brain tumor diagnosis. Conclusion: MRI demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy, particularly for lesion localization and parenchymal assessment, reinforcing its gold-standard status in brain tumor imaging. These findings support its prioritization in clinical protocols, improving early diagnosis and treatment planning in neuro-oncology.