Imaging Recommendations for Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Primary Central Nervous System Neoplasms in Adults

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms are a vast and diverse group of tumors in adults with variable prognoses depending on histology and increasingly understood molecular features. There has been a major paradigm shift in the approach towards these neoplasms ever since the implications of these molecular features have been recognized. Gliomas are the major group of primary CNS neoplasms in adults, and glioblastomas are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in older patients. Apart from gliomas, meningiomas and pituitary tumors are other major groups. This review aims to elucidate the role of imaging in the screening, diagnosis, management, and follow-up of major primary CNS neoplasms, with an elaborate discussion on the role of artificial intelligence and advanced imaging techniques and future directions likely to play a pivotal role in this ever-evolving subspecialty of oncology.