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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Co-analysis of Brain Structure and Function using fMRI and Diffusion-weighted Imaging
Published on: November 8, 2012
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Differentiating High-Grade Glioma from Solitary Brain
1From the Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Accurate diagnosis of high-grade glioma and solitary brain metastasis is clinically important because it affects the patient's outcome and alters patient management.
Purpose:
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of DWI and DTI for differentiating high-grade glioma from solitary brain metastasis.
Data Sources:
A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted up to November 10, 2017.
Study Selection:
Studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of DWI and DTI for differentiating high-grade glioma from solitary brain metastasis were selected.
Data Analysis:
Summary sensitivity and specificity were established by hierarchic logistic regression modeling. Multiple subgroup analyses were also performed.
Data Synthesis:
Fourteen studies with 1143 patients were included. The individual sensitivities and specificities of the 14 included studies showed a wide variation, ranging from 46.2% to 96.0% for sensitivity and 40.0% to 100.0% for specificity. The pooled sensitivity of both DWI and DTI was 79.8% (95% CI, 70.9%-86.4%), and the pooled specificity was 80.9% (95% CI, 75.1%-85.5%). The area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.89). The multiple subgroup analyses also demonstrated similar diagnostic performances (sensitivities of 76.8%-84.7% and specificities of 79.7%-84.0%). There was some level of heterogeneity across the included studies (I2 = 36%); however, it did not reach a level of concern.
Limitations:
The included studies used various DWI and DTI parameters.
Conclusions:
DWI and DTI demonstrated a moderate diagnostic performance for differentiation of high-grade glioma from solitary brain metastasis.
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