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Updated: Oct 24, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Diffusion-Relaxation Correlation Spectroscopic MRI in Adult Gliomas: Spectral Heterogeneity and Associations With
Mengyang Wu1, Rong Lu2, Weijun Tang2
1Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Background:
Preoperative MRI characterization of glioma histomolecular features is limited by intratumoral heterogeneity and the scalar nature of conventional diffusion and relaxation metrics.
Purpose:
To characterize glioma heterogeneity using diffusion-relaxation correlation spectroscopic imaging (DR-CSI) and evaluate associations with glioma grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status, and Ki-67 index.
Study Type:
Prospective.
Population:
Fifty Three treatment-naïve adults with histopathologically confirmed gliomas (mean age, 49.0 ± 13.9 years; 34 men).
Field Strength/Sequence:
3 T; multi-b, multi-TE diffusion-relaxation spin-echo echo-planar imaging sequence.
Assessment:
Voxelwise D-T2 spectra were reconstructed from multi-b-value, multi-echo-time data and clustered into seven spectral subregions (V1-V7). Spectral fractions and conventional metrics were normalized to normal-appearing white matter (NAWM): nV1-nV7, nADC1, and nT21 were obtained from the entire non-necrotic tumor, whereas nADC2 and nT22 were obtained from enhancing tumor (ET) in substantially enhancing lesions or non-enhancing tumor (NET) in lesions with little or no enhancement. Associations of these metrics with glioma grade (high or low), Ki-67 index, and IDH status (wild type or mutant) were investigated.
Statistical Tests:
Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ), logistic regression, likelihood ratio testing, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, bootstrapped area under ROC curve (AUC).
Significance:
p < 0.05.
Results:
DR-CSI showed distinct D-T2 spectral patterns across ET, NET, necrosis/cystic change, and NAWM. nV3 significantly correlated with Ki-67 index (ρ = 0.401) and remained significantly associated with high-grade status after age adjustment (odds ratio [OR] per standard deviation [SD] increase = 6.020). nV5 was significantly associated with IDH-mutant status after age adjustment (OR per SD increase, 10.980). Including nV3 in addition to age significantly improved grade model fit (bootstrap-corrected AUC, 0.805 vs. 0.709). Including nADC2 and nV5 in addition to age significantly improved IDH model fit over age alone (bootstrap-corrected AUC, 0.953 vs. 0.877).
Data Conclusion:
DR-CSI characterized D-T2 compartment spectral heterogeneity in gliomas, and DR-CSI metrics were associated with grade, Ki-67 index, and IDH status. These findings support DR-CSI as a composition-sensitive MRI approach for glioma heterogeneity assessment.
Evidence Level:
2.
Technical Efficacy:
Stage 2.
