Meiyun Wang MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Jian Ping Dai, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lin Ai MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hong-yan Chen, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shao-wu. Li, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pei-yi Gao, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gliomas are prone to recurrence and aggressive growth, which affects treatment planning and prognosis. Our purpose was to evaluate whether diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) can detect abnormalities distal to hyperintensities on T2-weighted images and its possible relationship to tumor grade in cerebral gliomas.

Routine MRI and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) were both performed on twenty-eight patients with histologically confirmed supratentorial gliomas(high and low grade) at GE 3.0T MR using FSE and EPI sequences. Regions of interest(ROI) were drawn within the tumors,in white matter at various distances from the tumor and in areas of abnormality on DTI that appeared normal on T2-weighted images.The relative anisotropy index(RAI)-a measure of white matter organization,was calculated for these ROIs.

The abnormality on DTI was larger than that seen on T2-weighted images in 23/28 patients(79%)with high-grade gliomas.In these high-grade tumors the RAI in areas of white matter disruption with normal appearance on T2-weighted images was reduced.In all non high-grade tumors(WHO grade Ⅱ gliomas)the tumor extent on DTI was identical to the abnormalities shown on T2-weighted imaging and RAI measurements were not reduced.

Subtle white matter disruption can be identified using DTI in patients with high-grade gliomas,which is not identified in association with low-grade gliomas. It is suggested that the changes on DTI may be due to tumor infiltration and that the DTI may provide a useful method of detecting occult white matter invasion by gliomas.

Wang, M, Dai, J, Ai, L, Chen, H, Li, S, Gao, P, Identification of White Matter Tract Invasion Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Patients with Brain Tumors at 3T.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4407325.html