Susceptibility-weighted imaging in grading brain astrocytomas.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the value of intratumoral vessels and micro-hemorrhage shown in susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) for grading brain astrocytomas and to analyze the difference between SWI and conventional imaging techniques.

METHODS:

22 patients with astrocytomas were diagnosed with surgical specimens, 9 of which were grades I-II, and 13 were grades III-IV. All examinations were performed on Signa DEx 3.0 T MRI scanner. Conventional imaging techniques (T1WI, T2WI, T2FLAIR, CE-T1WI) and SWI sequence were used. The parameters of SWI sequence were the following: TR=35 ms, TE=20 ms, FA=15 degrees, slice thickness=2 mm. The small vessels and blood products of the tumors in SW images were analyzed. The differences between the two groups in SW images were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS:

The findings in SW images of brain astrocytomas were correlated strongly with pathology. SWI was more sensitive compared to conventional imaging techniques for showing small vessels and micro-hemorrhage in brain astrocytomas. Statistical comparison showed that the small vessels and micro-hemorrhage of two groups of brain astrocytomas in SW images differed significantly.

CONCLUSION:

SWI is superior to conventional imaging techniques at showing the small vessels and micro-hemorrhage in brain astrocytomas, which plays an important role in the tumor grading.

• Authors: Chuanting Li, Bin Ai, Yan Li, Hengtao Qi, Lebin Wu
• Journal: European journal of radiology (Eur J Radiol) Vol. 75 Issue 1 Pg. e81-5 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1872-7727 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 19726149 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Algorithms
• Astrocytoma (diagnosis)
• Brain Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Image Enhancement (methods)
• Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted (methods)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Young Adult