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Clinical application value of 3.0T MR diffusion tensor imaging in grade diagnosis of gliomas
1Medical Image Center, The First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu, Henan 476100, P.R. China.
Abstract:
The clinical value of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in grade diagnosis of gliomas was investigated. A total of 31 patients with glioma were administered 3.0T MR convention and DTI examination, with quantitative measurement of anisotropy coefficient fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent dispersion coefficient (ADC) value, and the comparison of quantitative parameters of glioma between low- and high-grade, which was detected by Mann-Whitney U test. The receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to take the value of ADC and FA in tumor ROI as a critical point, to calculate the area under the curve and to confirm the diagnosis threshold value and evaluate its diagnostic efficiency. The FA value of 14 low-grade glioma cases was 139.4±81.3, with an ADC value of (1.36±0.21) ×10-3 mm2/sec. The FA value of 17 high-grade glioma cases was 103.1±41.5, with ADC value of (1.09±0.28)-3 mm2/sec; the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The ADC value was taken as the critical point to judge tumor grade and draw the ROC curve; the area under the curve was 0.79. As the diagnosis threshold value, the ADC value of 1.11×10-3 mm2/sec was used to distinguish between low- and high-grade tumor with a sensitivity of 58.8% and specificity of 92.9%. The FA value was taken as a critical point to judge tumor grade and draw the ROC curve; the area under the curve was 0.62. As the diagnosis threshold value, the FA value of 178.9 was applied to distinguish between low- and high-grade tumor sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 35.7%. Therefore, the FA value and ADC value in DTI has an important estimated value for the pathological grade of glioma.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values aids in diagnosing glioma grades. ADC values show higher diagnostic efficiency for differentiating low-grade from high-grade gliomas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Gliomas are primary brain tumors with varying grades impacting prognosis and treatment.
- Accurate grading of gliomas is crucial for effective clinical management.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in glioma assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical value of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in differentiating low-grade from high-grade gliomas.
- To quantitatively assess fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in gliomas.
- To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of DTI parameters for glioma grading.
Main Methods:
- 31 glioma patients underwent 3.0T MR conventional and DTI examinations.
- Quantitative measurements of FA and ADC values were performed within the tumor region of interest (ROI).
- Statistical comparison between low- and high-grade gliomas using Mann-Whitney U test and ROC curve analysis.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in FA and ADC values were observed between low-grade and high-grade gliomas (P<0.05).
- ROC analysis for ADC values yielded an area under the curve of 0.79, with a threshold of 1.11×10-3 mm2/sec offering 58.8% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity.
- ROC analysis for FA values yielded an area under the curve of 0.62, with a threshold of 178.9 offering 94.1% sensitivity and 35.7% specificity.
Conclusions:
- MR DTI parameters, specifically FA and ADC values, hold significant value in estimating the pathological grade of gliomas.
- ADC values demonstrate a higher diagnostic efficiency in distinguishing between low- and high-grade gliomas compared to FA values.
- DTI provides a non-invasive method for supporting glioma grading, aiding in clinical decision-making.
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