In vivo brain edema classification: New insight offered by large b-value diffusion-weighted MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of large b-value diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the characterization of the physicochemical properties of the water in brain edema under experimental and clinical conditions.


METHODS
Vasogenic brain edema was induced in mice by means of cold injury. A total of 17 patients with extensive peritumoral brain edema were also investigated. The longitudinal relaxation time (T(1)) and apparent diffusion coefficient (D) were measured in the edematous area both in humans and in mice. D was calculated by using both mono- (D(mono)) and biexponential (D(fast) and D(slow)) approaches in the low and overall range of b-values, respectively. The D values were correlated with the T(1) values.


RESULTS
A strong linear correlation was found between T(1) and D(mono) in vasogenic brain edema, both in humans and in mice. After breakdown of D(mono) into fast and slow diffusing components, only D(fast) exhibited a strong correlation with T(1); D(slow) was unchanged in vasogenic brain edema.


CONCLUSIONS
Large b-value DWI can furnish a detailed characterization of vasogenic brain edema, and may provide a quantitative approach for the differentiation of edema types on the basis of the physicochemical properties of the water molecules. Application of the DWI method may permit prediction and follow-up of the effects of antiedematous therapy.
Schwarcz
Attila
A
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. attila.schwarcz@aok.pte.hu
Ursprung
Zsuzsa
Z
Berente
Zoltan
Z
Bogner
Peter
P
Kotek
Gyula
G
Meric
Philippe
P
Gillet
Brigitte
B
Beloeil
Jean-Claude
JC
Dóczi
Tamás
T
D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged