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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Peritumoral brain regions in gliomas and meningiomas: investigation with isotropic diffusion-weighted MR imaging and
James M Provenzale1, Peter McGraw, Pradnya Mhatre
1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3808, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Purpose:
To retrospectively measure the diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging characteristics of peritumoral hyperintense white matter (WM) and peritumoral normal-appearing WM, as seen on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of infiltrative high-grade gliomas and meningiomas.
Materials And Methods:
Seventeen patients with biopsy-proved glioma and nine patients with imaging findings consistent with meningioma and an adjacent hyperintense region on T2-weighted MR images were examined with DW and diffusion-tensor MR imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured on maps generated from isotropic DW images of enhancing tumor, hyperintense regions adjacent to enhancing tumor, normal-appearing WM adjacent to hyperintense regions, and analogous locations in the contralateral WM corresponding to these areas. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was measured in similar locations on maps generated from diffusion-tensor imaging data. Changes in ADC and FA in each type of tissue were compared across tumor types by using a two-sample t test. P <.05 indicated statistical significance.
Results:
Mean ADCs in peritumoral hyperintense regions were 1.309 x 10(-3) mm2/sec (mean percentage of 181% of normal WM) for gliomas and 1.427 x 10(-3) mm2/sec (192% of normal value) for meningiomas (no significant difference). Mean ADCs in peritumoral normal-appearing WM were 0.723 x 10(-3) mm2/sec (106% of normal value) for gliomas and 0.743 x 10(-3) mm2/sec (102% of normal value) for meningiomas (no significant difference). Mean FA values in peritumoral hyperintense regions were 0.178 (43% of normal WM value) for gliomas and 0.224 (65% of normal value) for meningiomas (P =.05). Mean FA values for peritumoral normal-appearing WM were 0.375 (83% of normal value) for gliomas and 0.404 (100% of normal value) for meningiomas (P =.01).
Conclusion:
The difference in FA decreases in peritumoral normal-appearing WM between gliomas and meningiomas was significant, and the difference in FA decreases in peritumoral hyperintense regions between these tumors approached but did not reach significance. These findings may indicate a role for diffusion MR imaging in the detection of tumoral infiltration that is not visible on conventional MR images.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals significant differences in white matter integrity between gliomas and meningiomas. These findings suggest DTI may help detect subtle tumor infiltration not visible on standard MRI scans.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- High-grade gliomas and meningiomas can exhibit infiltrative growth patterns.
- Distinguishing between tumor types and identifying subtle infiltration on conventional MRI can be challenging.
- Diffusion-weighted (DW) and diffusion-tensor MR imaging (DTI) offer insights into tissue microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare diffusion imaging characteristics of peritumoral white matter (WM) in gliomas and meningiomas.
- To evaluate apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in hyperintense and normal-appearing WM adjacent to these tumors.
- To assess the potential of DTI in detecting non-visible tumoral infiltration.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of DW and DTI MRI scans from 17 glioma and 9 meningioma patients.
- Measurement of ADCs in enhancing tumor, peritumoral hyperintense regions, and normal-appearing WM.
- Measurement of FA in similar peritumoral regions and contralateral WM.
- Statistical comparison of ADC and FA values between glioma and meningioma groups using two-sample t-tests.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean ADCs was found between gliomas and meningiomas in either hyperintense or normal-appearing peritumoral WM.
- Mean FA values were significantly lower in peritumoral normal-appearing WM for gliomas compared to meningiomas (P = .01).
- Mean FA values in peritumoral hyperintense regions showed a trend towards lower values in gliomas, approaching but not reaching statistical significance (P = .05).
Conclusions:
- Significant differences in FA in peritumoral normal-appearing white matter distinguish gliomas from meningiomas.
- Diffusion tensor imaging may aid in identifying tumoral infiltration beyond visible margins on conventional MRI.
- DTI shows promise as a tool for characterizing the extent of infiltrative brain tumors.
