Cerebral blood volume maps of gliomas: comparison with tumor grade and histologic findings.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the utility of magnetic resonance (MR) cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps in the evaluation of gliomas.


METHODS
CBV maps from 19 patients with histologically proved gliomas were calculated from dynamic MR image sets acquired with echo-planar spin-echo imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium-based contrast material.


RESULTS
The maximum CBV varied from 0.82 to 5.40 in the high-grade group (n = 13) and from 1.01 to 1.21 in the low-grade group (n = 6). The difference was statistically significant. Maximum CBV was associated with mitotic activity and vascularity, but not with cellular atypia, endothelial proliferation, necrosis, or cellularity.


CONCLUSIONS
MR CBV maps provided diagnostic information not available with conventional MR imaging in six cases and offers a functional parameter for assessing glioma grade and regions of focal activity.
Aronen
H J
HJ
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown 02129.
Gazit
I E
IE
Louis
D N
DN
Buchbinder
B R
BR
Pardo
F S
FS
Weisskoff
R M
RM
Harsh
G R
GR
Cosgrove
G R
GR
Halpern
E F
EF
Hochberg
F H
FH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001810:Blood Volume; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged