Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) has been shown to inversely correlate with tumor cellular density. Conventional imaging using serial MRIs is often challenging in evaluating progression of low-grade gliomas (LGG). The purpose of this study was to assess the role of MR diffusion in serial imaging of patients with LGG as a parameter of stability vs. high-grade transformation (HGT).
METHOD AND MATERIALSPatients with histologically proven LGG were included in this retrospective study if they had consecutive clinical and imaging follow-up from the initial diagnosis until they underwent second surgical biopsy. All available MR exams were coregistered and ADC histogram measures determined for each patient using volume-of-interest from the FLAIR hyperintense tumor volume. Normalized ADC-10th percentile values were obtained for each time point, data were plotted over time for each patient and scored to evaluate whether values fit within the expected pattern: HGT (interval decrease in ADC); Stable (plateau, or interval increase in ADC).
RESULTSTwenty patients with histologically proven LGG (Grade II oligodendroglioma, n=11; Grade II oligoastrocytoma n=4; Grade I-II astrocytomas, n=5) were followed up for a median of 3 years (range, 1.2 –5.5 years). A total of 60 MRI studies were evaluated (3 MRIs per patient). Based on surgical pathology on repeat biopsy, histological grade in 7 patients remained stable (grade II), while 13 patients transformed to a high-grade (Grade III n=11, grade IV n=2). Progressive downward trend of ADC was significantly associated with HGT (p=0.01, Odds Ratio:45). Sequential ADC analysis showed progressive downward trend in 10/13 (77%) in patients with HGT and remained stable/plateau in all patients who continued to be histologically stable (7/7). There was significant correlation between downward trend of ADC and HGT (r=0.74, p=0.002). Increase tumor volume measured from volumetric analysis from FLAIR imaging was not a significant association with HGT (p=0.6, Odds ratio:0.9).
CONCLUSIONSequential ADC analysis in patients with LGG can help to identify tumor progression. Downward trend of ADC values can predict HGT despite apparent stability of tumor size and extent on conventional imaging.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONSequential progressive decrease in ADC values is a helpful imaging parameter for follow up of patients with low-grade glioma and is highly associated with high-grade transformation.
To assess current practices of glioma imaging throughout Europe, in particular to identify controversies, uncertainties and potential technical hurdles.
METHOD AND MATERIALSSurvey invitations were emailed to ESNR members (n=1662) and known associates (n=6400), European national radiologists’ societies and posted via social media. To avoid duplicate bias, participants were instructed to supply institution details or confirm they were the only person answering from their center. The questionnaire featured 87 individual items divided into multiple choice, single best choice and free text questions on personal practice and preferred techniques.
RESULTS224 individuals responded by 1/4/2016. Demographics: 79.9% were neuroradiologists, 9.4% general radiologists, 6.3% trainees and 4.5% other professions. More worked at academic (59.2%) than general (37.7%) hospitals with varied science support (none 39.3%, general physics 36.2%, neurophysics 23.2%). Conventional MRI: 99.1% read DWI, but methods to determine restriction differed (visual 76.8%, ADC measurement 17.4%, advanced analysis 3.1%). 82.1% performed 3D acquisitions, mostly T1 and FLAIR. Advanced MRI: 85.3% used perfusion (PWI), (83.2% DSC, 28.3% DCE, 11.5% ASL), with 48.7% acquiring PWI universally. 81.2% used MRS (single voxel 72.4%, multi-voxel 62.4%), but less routinely (21.5%). fMRI was added by 48.9% and DTI by 63.7% with around 60% results integrated into navigation systems. Among barriers to progress, lack of facility or software, time constraints and no clinician requests outweighed reimbursement issues. Scenarios: PWI was the favoured modality to identify pseudoprogression (56.1%). 22.9% used a report template, 59.9% issued qualitative reports and 27.9% obtained RANO measures. Postoperative imaging was routinely performed by 74.8% within 24-72hrs, and 17.2% reported a percent measure of resection.
CONCLUSIONThis survey gathered valuable information on differences of equipment, levels of experience, financial and healthcare economic factors, which may determine the practicality of guidelines.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONThe results of this analysis will inform and support the publication of practical recommendations to image glioma patients with MRI.
To investigate the value of initial area under the curve (IAUC) derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) combined with MGMT promoter methylation status for predicting survival outcome in patients with glioblastoma (GBM).
METHOD AND MATERIALSThis retrospective study included 88 patients with GBM who underwent preoperative DCE MRI. The mean and 75th percentile (p75) of IAUC values at 30 (IAUC30) and 60 seconds (IAUC60) were acquired from the entire enhancing tumors. Univariate survival analyses were performed for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with IAUC, MGMT, other clinical factors, and conventional MRI findings using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Subgroup univariate analyses were performed with IAUC according to MGMT status. The multivariate models were built with and without IAUC parameters. The diagnostic accuracy and improvement in 1.5-year OS and 1-year PFS prediction of the models after adding the IAUC parameters were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and net reclassification index (NRI). The IAUC parameters were compared according to MGMT status.
RESULTSHigh IAUC parameters were associated with worse OS and PFS in the unmethylated MGMT group, but not in the methylated group and in the entire cohort. In the unmethylated MGMT group, the diagnostic accuracies for 1.5-year OS and 1-year PFS prediction were improved when IAUC parameters were added (OS area under the ROC curve [AUC], 0.87 - 0.90 and PFS AUC, 0.69 – 0.71) to the models with clinical factors and conventional MRI findings. (OS AUC, 0.77 and PFS AUC, 0.66). This improvement was significant for 1.5-year OS when the mean and 75th percentile of IAUC30, and the 75th percentile of IAUC60 were added (P = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.056 by NRI, respectively). IAUC parameters were higher in the methylated MGMT group than the unmethylated group (P < 0.05 for all).
CONCLUSIONIAUC parameters combined with MGMT status can be useful for predicting survival outcome in patients with GBM, allowing more accurate prognostication of GBM with unmethylated MGMT promoter.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONIAUC parameters combined with MGMT status can be used postoperatively as a predictor of survival outcome of GBM, allowing more accurate prognostication of GBM with unmethylated MGMT.
There is increasing evidence that hypoxia (lack of oxygen) is associated with tumor aggressive, resistance to radiation therapy and increased likelihood of biochemical failure and metastatic spread. Brain tissue oxygen tension (pO2) measurement is essential for characterizing the relationship between O2 and metabolism, and for assessing the consequences resulting from an inadequate supply. The purpose of this study was to non-invasively measure human brain tumors oxygen tension (pO2) using 1H MR Oximetry Imaging (MOXI).
METHOD AND MATERIALSA total of 16 patients with histologically confirmed brain tumors were included in this study. All subjects underwent 1H MRI at 3.0 T including anatomic MR imaging, quantitative T1, T2 mappings and multiple b-value single-shot EPI diffusion measurements. T1 mapping was acquired using variable flip angle gradient echo sequence with 4 flip angles (2°, 7°, 15°, 25°), TR: 5ms. T2 mapping was acquired with a standard CPMG sequence with parameters: TR = 2500ms, 20 echoes ranging from 10ms to 200ms with 10ms echo spacing. EPI diffusion parameters are: TR/TEeff = 4500/98ms and 10 b values with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 450, 600, 900 and 1200 seconds/mm2. The brain tumor pO2 was determined using MOXI algorithm which the accuracy was validated by 19F MRI. MOXI for pO2 estimation is based on IVIM diffusion MRI and the dependence of the blood R2 relaxation rate on the inter-echo spacing measured using a multiple spin-echo CPMG sequence and weak-field diffusion model.
RESULTSPresentative brain tumor pO2 maps were shown in Figure (Fig.A Glioblastoma III and Fig.B Meningioma). Noticeable heterogeneity in pO2 levels was observed throughout the different tumor types with large pO2 variations. The intratumoral and peritumoral pO2 distribution can be clearly revealed by MOXI.
CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated the feasibility of determining brain tumor pO2 by the use of MOXI. The non-invasive nature of this approach makes it particularly attractive for longitudinally assessing pO2 in tumor. Findings of this pilot study will support MOXI as a promising tool for monitoring individual tumor oxygenation with potential applications for prognostic indicator of therapeutic response.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONMOXI provides a non-invasive promising tool for monitoring brain tumor oxygenation.
To assess the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) for in vivo molecular profiling of human glioma.
METHOD AND MATERIALSMean kurtosis (MK) and mean diffusivity (MD) metrics from DKI were prospectively assessed in 44 patients with histopathologically confirmed glioma. The results were compared in regard to WHO-based histological findings and molecular characteristics: isocitrate-dehydrogenase (IDH1/2) mutation status, alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) expression, chromosome 1p/19q loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status.
RESULTSMK was significantly lower in patients with IDH1/2 mutation (0.55 ± 0.12, p=0.002) and ATRX loss of expression (0.54 ± 0.15, p=0.036) than in those with IDH1/2 wild type (0.69 ± 0.13) and ATRX retained expression (0.62 ± 0.13), respectively. Regarding the “integrated” molecular diagnosis, MK was significantly higher in primary glioblastoma (0.70 ± 0.13, p=0.002) than in astrocytoma (0.51 ± 0.14).
CONCLUSIONMK may be used to provide insights into the molecular profile of human glioma.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONConsidering the diagnostic and prognostic significance of IDH1/2 mutation status and ATRX expression, MK appears as a promising in vivo biomarker for glioma. The diagnostic performance of MK seems to fit more with the “integrated” molecular approach than the conventional histological findings of the current WHO 2007 classification.
To compare intraoperative contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images to the correspondent co-planar T1 weighted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images (gdMRI) using fusion imaging between CEUS and pre-op MRI in glioblastoma (GBM).
METHOD AND MATERIALSTen patients with GBM diagnosis were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent tumor excision guided by navigated intra-operative US (ioUS) based on fusion imaging between ioUS and pre-operative MRI. Navigated CEUS scans were performed after intravenous administration of ultrasound contrast agents (CA), before tumor resection. Using fusion imaging we compared CEUS contrast enhancement (location, morphology, margins, dimensions, and pattern) to that of gdMRI
RESULTSRegistration between pre-operative gdMRI and ioUS demonstrated an error less the 2mm. In all cases CEUS highlighted the lesion. Contrast enhancement of gdMRI and CEUS was superimposable in all cases for location, margins, dimensions, and morphology while the pattern was the same in 9/10 cases; in one case the pattern was different.
CONCLUSIONCEUS contrast enhancement location, margins, morphology, and dimensions are superimposable to that provided by pre-operative gdMRI in all cases; while the pattern is the same in most of the cases.Taking into account that the goal of GBM resection is to remove all the gdMRI enhanced area, the information obtained with CEUS are of paramount importance in surgical management of GBM.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONCEUS permits to have in intra-operative setting information on location, morphology, margins, and dimensions of the GBM identical to that obtained pre-operatively with gdMRI, and can be used as an intra-operative guidance in GBMs removal
To determine if cerebral blood flow (CBF) could have predictive role in patients with glioblastoma with ongoing adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) at first-line treatment and determine usefulness of perfusion fraction of CBF for an entire contrast enhancing lesion.
METHOD AND MATERIALSForty-seven patients with glioblastoma ongoing adjuvant TMZ cycles underwent arterial spin labeling (ASL) MR immediately after concurrent TMZ-radiation therapy (CCRT), and followed up clinically with MR imaging (median follow up, 250 days). Region-of-interests were drawn on ASL where increased CBF compared to contralateral normal gray matter and volume-based perfusion fraction of increased CBF for an entire contrast material-enhanced lesion was calculated. Then, patients were dichotomized to positive- or negative-CBF according to 5, 25, 75, and 95 percentile perfusion fraction cutoffs. Log-rank tests were used to evaluate the association between dichotomized CBF and time to progression by using Kaplan-Meier curves.
RESULTSPatients with positive-CBF group showed significantly longer median TTP compared to negative-CBF group, and using 75 percentile perfusion fraction cutoff provided best prediction to TTP (positive-CBF group = 4 months vs negative-CBF group = 10 months; log-rank test, P <.0001). Longer median TTP in positive- CBF group was observed using 5, 25, 50, and 95 percentile perfusion fraction cutoffs (positive-CBF group = 4-7 months vs negative-CBF group = 10-21 months; log-rank test, all P = <.001).
CONCLUSIONCerebral blood flow can be used to stratify progression in patients with glioblastoma with ongoing adjuvant TMZ, and perfusion fraction of CBF showed robust result on stratifying positive- and negative-CBF group.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONPositive-and negative-CBF group might be used to predict progression in patients with glioblastoma with ongoing adjuvant TMZ at their first line treatment. Not only qualitative evaluation of CBF, semiquantitative CBF measurements using volume-based perfusion fraction showed robust result on stratifying positive- and negative- CBF group.
AwardsStudent Travel Stipend Award
Tumor genotyping in neuro-oncology holds promise to differentiate histologically similar tumors and provide prognostic information. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status has been validated as a prognostic and predictive marker, with IDH wildtype (WT) lower grade gliomas behaving analogous to glioblastoma. Similarly, codeletion of 1p19q (1p19qcodel) is established as both a prognostic and predictive marker. A novel marker, inactivating mutations of alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene is associated with IDH mutations and is mutually exclusive with 1p19qcodel. Collectively, these markers comprise three distinct molecular groups of lower grade glioma: 1) IDH wildtype (WT); 2) IDH mutant (MT)-1p19qcodel-ATRX intact; 3) IDH MT-1p19q intact-ATRX loss. Therefore, we aim to determine if these molecular subgroups can be predicted by distinct imaging characteristics.
METHOD AND MATERIALSPre-treatment brain MRIs were analyzed for 42 patients with pathologically proven lower grade gliomas (WHO grade II or III) by a neuroradiologist, blinded to the pathologic diagnosis and molecular status. FLAIR, post-contrast, and diffusion-weighted sequences were quantitatively evaluated and ranked. The Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the relationship of these parameters with respect to molecular status.
RESULTSIDH WT tumors were significantly associated with an infiltrative tumor border pattern on FLAIR, whereas the IDH MT tumors demonstrated either well-defined or ill-defined borders on FLAIR (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two IDH MT groups with regards to FLAIR tumor border pattern; however, there was a trend towards restricted diffusion among tumors with 1p19q intact-ATRX loss (p =0.06). Contrast enhancement had no significant associations.
CONCLUSIONIDH WT lower grade gliomas are more likely to demonstrate an infiltrative pattern on FLAIR compared to IDH MT, corresponding to their worse prognosis. Among IDH MT tumors, there was a trend towards restricted diffusion in tumors with ATRX loss. Further forays into advanced imaging may be able to delineate these three molecular subgroups and provide essential prognostic information at initial MR diagnosis.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONWith the molecular revolution in neuro-oncology underway, initial diagnostic imaging may be able to predict molecular subgroups of lower grade glioma thereby influencing upfront treatment decisions.
AwardsStudent Travel Stipend Award
The purpose of this study is to assess major genomic profiles of glioblastoma and correlate genetic information with radiologic features including volumetrics, normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV) and normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC), and progression free survival (PFS).
METHOD AND MATERIALSWe retrospectively enrolled total of 219 patients with histopathologically diagnosed with glioblastoma, who performed conventional brain MR images, DSC PWI and DWI before treatment. Major genetic information of the tumor (e.g. IDH mutation, 1p deletion, 19q deletion, EGFR amplification, PTEN loss, ATRX loss, and p53 mutation) was analyzed in all patients. Volume of tumor on FLAIR images and enhancing portion on contrast enhanced T1-weighted (CET1) image, ratio of the two volumes and volume of necrosis within tumors were measured. The nCBV and nADC histogram parameters were calculated based on both FLAIR image and CE-T1 images. Measured parameters and PFS in different genetic profiles were compared by using independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney test and ANOVA.
RESULTSOf 190 patients with available IDH mutation information, IDH mutation was observed in 28 cases and was absent in 162 cases. IDH mutation positive group showed higher volume ratio between FLAIR and CET1 images (8.27 vs. 3.38, p=0.025), and lower mean nCBV (3.89 vs. 5.21, p=0.02) than IDH mutation negative group. ATRX loss group revealed higher 5th percentile nADC value (1.10 vs. 1.02, p=0.048) than group without ATRX loss. In comparison between the three groups (IDH mutation positive, IDH mutation negative with and without ATRX loss), the 5th percentile nADC value demonstrated a significant difference (1.12 vs. 1.10 vs. 1.01, p=0.019). Additionally, volume ratio between FLAIR and CET1 images and 5th percentile nADC showed a positive correlation with PFS (p=0.0018, and <0.0001, respectively), which was independent of genetic markers.
CONCLUSIONWe found that the major genetic markers of glioblastoma including IDH mutation and ATRX loss could be predicted by using imaging biomarkers. In addition, volumetics and nADC can be used for the prognosis prediction.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATIONWe found a definite correlation between radiologic parameters, such as volumetrics, normalized CBV and ADC, and major genomic profiles and some radiologic parameters were feasible predictors of prognosis in glioblastoma patients.