Prognostic Role of Conventional and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Optic Pathway Gliomas

The natural history of optic pathway glioma (OPG) is highly variable and unpredictable. We present a pilot study of the prognostic role of conventional and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) in the evaluation of OPG.

We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients with 20 pretreatment OPG lesions who underwent conventional and DCE MRI between January 2010 and December 2016. Conventional MRI was evaluated for enhancement pattern, cystic component, optic nerve tortuosity, optic nerve dural ectasia, and optic nerve perineural thickening. The DCE MRI data were analyzed for quantitative parameters using the two-compartment pharmacokinetic model (K^trans , k_ep , and v_e ) and for semiquantitative parameters based on time-signal intensity curve (AUC₆₀ , peak, and wash-in). The results were compared with the clinically progressive or nonprogressive tumor.

Five progressive OPGs and 15 nonprogressive OPGs were included. Conventional MRI findings of diffuse enhancement and cystic component were significantly correlated with progressive OPGs (both P = .01). Conventional MRI yielded sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 90%. K^trans , k_ep , and v_e as well as AUC₆₀ , peak, and wash-in were significantly higher in progressive OPGs (P < .05). Using DCE MRI increased diagnostic performance up to a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93%, and accuracy of 95%.

DCE MRI accurately distinguished progressive and nonprogressive OPGs, with high sensitivities and specificities. DCE MRI has a significant prognostic role in predicting progressive OPGs, thus making it useful for the identification of patients who need close clinical and imaging follow-up.