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Updated: Nov 12, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Primary application of mean apparent propagator-MRI diffusion model in the grading of diffuse glioma
Peng Wang1, Lixin Weng2, Shenghui Xie1
1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010059, China.
Purpose:
To evaluate the diagnostic -->performance of mean apparent propagator-magnetic resonance imaging (MAP-MRI) in distinguishing the grades of diffuse gliomas.
Method:
Thirty-six patients with pathologically confirmed diffuse gliomas were enrolled in this study. MAP-MRI parameters were measured in the parenchymal area of the tumour: non-Gaussianity (NG), non-Gaussianity axial (NGAx), non-Gaussianity vertical (NGRad), Q-space inverse variance (QIV), return to the origin probability (RTOP), return to the axis probability (RTAP), return to the plane probability (RTPP), and mean square displacement (MSD). Differences in the parameters between any two grades were compared, the characteristics of the parameters for different diffuse glioma grades were analysed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to analyse the diagnostic value of each parameter.
Results:
Compared with grade III gliomas, grade II gliomas had lower NG, NGAx and NGRad values. NG, NGAx and NGRad had great area under the ROC curve (AUC) values (0.823, 0.835, and 0.838, P < 0.05). Compared with those of grade IV glioma, the NG, NGAx, NGRad, RTAP and RTOP values for grade II glioma were lower, the QIV values were higher (all P < 0.05). NG, NGAx, NGRad, RTAP, RTOP and QIV had great area under the ROC curve (AUC) values (0.923, 0.929, 0.923,0.793,0.822, and 0.769, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Quantitative MAP-MRI parameters can distinguish grade II and III and grade II and IV gliomas before surgery but not grade III and IV gliomas. Thus, these parameters have clinical guiding value in the noninvasive preoperative evaluation of tumour pathological grading.
Insights
Mean apparent propagator-magnetic resonance imaging (MAP-MRI) effectively distinguishes diffuse glioma grades II and III, and II and IV, aiding preoperative diagnosis. However, it cannot differentiate between grade III and IV gliomas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Diffuse gliomas are primary brain tumors with varying grades impacting prognosis.
- Accurate preoperative grading is crucial for treatment planning.
- Current grading methods can be invasive or lack specificity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic performance of mean apparent propagator-magnetic resonance imaging (MAP-MRI) in differentiating diffuse glioma grades.
- To evaluate specific MAP-MRI parameters for their ability to distinguish between glioma grades II, III, and IV.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six patients with pathologically confirmed diffuse gliomas underwent MAP-MRI.
- Key MAP-MRI parameters including non-Gaussianity (NG) and return to origin probability (RTOP) were measured.
- Statistical analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine diagnostic value.
Main Results:
- MAP-MRI parameters like NG, NGAx, and NGRad showed significant differences between grade II and III gliomas (AUC > 0.82).
- Distinctions were also observed between grade II and IV gliomas for parameters including NG, NGAx, NGRad, RTAP, and RTOP (AUC > 0.76).
- MAP-MRI could not reliably differentiate between grade III and IV gliomas.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative MAP-MRI parameters show promise in noninvasively distinguishing between lower-grade gliomas (II vs. III, II vs. IV) preoperatively.
- These findings suggest clinical utility for MAP-MRI in guiding tumor pathological grading.
- Further research may be needed to improve differentiation between higher-grade gliomas (III vs. IV).
