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Perfusion-sensitive MR imaging of gliomas: comparison between gradient-echo and spin-echo echo-planar imaging
T Sugahara1, Y Korogi, M Kochi
1Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|August 11, 2001
Summary
Gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (GE-EPI) is more effective than spin-echo EPI (SE-EPI) for distinguishing high-grade from low-grade gliomas. GE-EPI showed significantly higher relative cerebral blood volume ratios in high-grade tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Gradient-echo echo-planar imaging (GE-EPI) and spin-echo EPI (SE-EPI) have varying sensitivities to vessel size.
- These differences may correlate with relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in tumors of different grades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of GE-EPI and SE-EPI techniques in differentiating low-grade from high-grade gliomas.
- To evaluate the utility of rCBV measurements in tumor grading.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-five patients (6 low-grade, 19 high-grade gliomas) underwent both GE-EPI and SE-EPI MRI sequences.
- Maximum rCBV ratios were calculated, normalized to contralateral white matter.
- Statistical significance was set at P < .05.
Main Results:
- High-grade gliomas exhibited significantly higher maximum rCBV ratios with GE-EPI (mean 5.0 ± 2.9) compared to SE-EPI (mean 2.9 ± 2.3; P = .02).
- Low-grade gliomas showed similar maximum rCBV ratios between GE-EPI (mean 1.2 ± 0.7) and SE-EPI (mean 1.2 ± 0.6; P = .66).
- GE-EPI demonstrated a significant difference in maximum rCBV ratios between low- and high-grade gliomas (P = .01).
Conclusions:
- The GE-EPI technique is more effective than SE-EPI for distinguishing between low- and high-grade gliomas.
- GE-EPI's sensitivity to vessel size aids in differentiating glioma grades based on rCBV.