A Comparative Study of MRI and CT Imaging in Diagnosing Brain Tumors in Adults: Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Implications

Abstract

Background: Brain tumors are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and accurate imaging is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning. This study compares the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing brain tumors in adults, assessing sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 120 adult patients (60 males, 60 females) with a mean age of 45 years (range: 20-70 years) who underwent both MRI and CT imaging for suspected brain tumors. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated for both modalities and compared.
Results: MRI showed higher sensitivity (93%) and accuracy (91%) compared to CT, which demonstrated sensitivity of 85% and accuracy of 82%. Specificity and PPV were higher for MRI (85% and 90%, respectively) than for CT (79% and 87%, respectively). Statistical analysis showed significant differences in sensitivity (p<0.05) but no significant difference in specificity (p>0.05) between the two modalities.
Conclusion: MRI is more sensitive and accurate than CT in diagnosing brain tumors, making it the preferred modality for early diagnosis. CT remains valuable in emergency settings but is less effective in providing detailed anatomical information, especially for tumors in difficult-to-visualize regions.