Three-dimensional susceptibility-weighted imaging at 3 T using various image analysis methods in the estimation of grading intracranial gliomas

Hori, Masaaki; Mori, Harushi; Aoki, Shigeki; Abe, Osamu; Masumoto, Tomohiko; Kunimatsu, Satoshi; Ohtomo, Kuni; Kabasawa, Hiroyuki; Shiraga, Nobuyuki; Araki, Tsutomu

doi:10.1016/j.mri.2010.01.002

« Previous Next »Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Volume 28, Issue 4 , Pages 594-598, May 2010

Three-dimensional susceptibility-weighted imaging at 3 T using various image analysis methods in the estimation of grading intracranial gliomas

Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuou, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
- Department of Radiology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 6-11-1, Omori-nishi, Ota, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Corresponding author. Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuou, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan. Tel.: +81 55 273 1111x2382; fax: +81 55 273 6744.
Harushi Mori
- Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
Osamu Abe
- Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
Tomohiko Masumoto
- Department of Radiology, Tsukuba University Hospital, 2-1-1, Amakubo, Tsukuba City, 305-8576, Japan
Satoshi Kunimatsu
- Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
Kuni Ohtomo
- Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
Hiroyuki Kabasawa
- Department of Radiology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
Nobuyuki Shiraga
- Department of Radiology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 6-11-1, Omori-nishi, Ota, Tokyo, 143-8541, Japan
Tsutomu Araki
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuou, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan

Received 28 August 2009; received in revised form 4 November 2009; accepted 5 January 2010. published online 17 March 2010.

Abstract

Object

Although three-dimensional (3D), high-spatial resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) appears to be valuable in the evaluation of central nervous system gliomas, several evaluation methods are proposed in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of 3D SWI for grading intracranial gliomas with various analysis methods.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three patients suspected of having gliomas participated in this study. SWI was performed in addition to conventional MR sequences. In 15 cases, post-gadolinium enhanced SWI was also obtained. Imaging evaluation criteria were conventional grade, hypointensity ratio in the tumor-dominant structure of hypointensity on SWI (hemorrhage or vascular structure) and presence of abnormal enhancement surrounding the tumor.

Results

Mean grading scores of conventional grade showed no statistically significant difference among WHO grades. Mean grading scores of hypointensity ratios in the tumor were higher for WHO Grades 3 and 4 than for lower grade tumors (P=.05, Mann–Whitney U test). Hemorrhagic foci were more frequently seen in the higher grade tumor. Post-contrast susceptibility-weighted images of five of 11 WHO Grade 3 and 4 cases showed bright enhancement surrounding the tumor, suggesting a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier.

Conclusions

SWI at 3 T may be a useful method to analyze the structural characteristics of gliomas and to evaluate pathology in vivo. Assessment of hypointensity ratios in the glioma was the most preferable method in grading glioma. However, more studies, specifically concerning a suitable method for image analysis, are needed to establish SWI at 3 T as a useful tool in clinical routine.

Keywords: MRI, Glioma, Susceptibility-weighted imaging, Tumor grading, Contrast enhancement