Diffusion Weighted Imaging and Grading of Brain Tumours

Background: Most prevalent primary cerebral tumours are meningiomas. The other frequent intracranial tumours are pituitary adenomas, which are benign, and gliomas, which are intra-axial brain tumours. The objective of this study is to understand the importance of DW MRI imaging with standard b-value in differentiating presurgical grading of the brain tumour.

Design: A total of 24 DWI patients, including 12 meningiomas, 8 gliomas, and 4 pituitary adenomas, were included in this retrospective analysis.

Method: The Stejskal-Tanner equation is used to analyse the ADCmean, ADCmin, and ADCmax values from the healthy and tumour core that are obtained out from area of interest (ROI).

Result: The ADCmean value of Gliomas ranges from 0.09 x 10-3 mm2s-1 to 0.99 x 10-3 mm2s-1 with a median value of 0.25 x 10-3 mm2s-1. ADCmean value 1.82 x 10-3 mm2/s (sensitivity: 67%. Specificity: 81.8%) and 0.94 x 10-3 mm2/s (sensitivity: 75%. specificity: 81.3%) can discriminate grade II –IV meningioma from grade II-IV glioma.

Conclusion: The ADC and its threshold levels offer crucial details on the grades, consistency, and characterization of tumour, aiding accurate diagnosis and therapy.