Evaluating Pediatric Brain Tumor Cellularity with Diffusion-Tensor Imaging

TLDR

MR imaging of CNS malignancies is limited, with tissue diagnosis remaining the gold standard, while diffusion‑tensor imaging quantifies apparent diffusion coefficient and anisotropy of water in tissue. The study tests whether the apparent diffusion coefficient can enhance MR imaging evaluation of newly diagnosed CNS neoplasms. The authors examined the relationship between ADC, anisotropy, and tumor cellularity in 12 pediatric patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. MR imaging of central nervous system (CNS) malignancies falls short of a definitive evaluation. Tissue diagnosis remains the gold standard. Diffusion-tensor MR imaging measures the apparent diffusion coefficient and diffusion anisotropy of water in tissue. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the apparent diffusion coefficient may improve the MR imaging evaluation of newly diagnosed CNS neoplasms. We examined the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient, anisotropy, and tumor cellularity in 12 pediatric patients.