Posterior Fossa Tumors among the Patients undergoing Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Posterior fossa brain tumors are much more common in pediatric than adult population, accounting
for 54 to 70% of total brain tumors in former and only 15 to 20% in later. Magnetic Resonance Imaging plays an
important role in tumor detection and characterization. Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging with
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy provides additional information in characterization of posterior fossa tumors. The
main aim of the study is to posterior fossa tumors among the patient’s undergoing diffusion weighted magnetic
resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the department of Radiology, Bir hospital among
the patients undergoing imaging of the brain. The patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging were included in the study. Among the cases of posterior fossa tumors presented for Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Bir Hospital underwent imaging in Philips Achieva 1.5 Telsa MR scanner machine using our institutional protocol. The ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board of National Academy of Medical Sciences, letter reference number 910/2080/81 was taken.

Results: Among the total of 250 cases, 76 (30.4%) (24.7% to 36.1% at 95% Confidence Interval) patients had posterior fossa tumor. Out of 76 cases, 40 (52.6%) were female and 36 (47.4%) were male. Most cases were between 36-45 years. In our study, metastasis 19 (25%) was the most common posterior fossa tumor followed by vestibular
schwannoma 15 (19.7%).

Conclusions: The prevalence of posterior fossa tumors was more in the adult population and lower in children
compared to the study done in similar settings. Addition of Diffusion weighed imaging and Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy sequences to the conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging increases the diagnostic accuracy in case of posterior fossa tumors in both adults and children