Correlations between MR and endothelial hyperplasia in low-grade gliomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the capacity of multimodal MR to detect endothelial hyperplasia (EH), which has been linked to the aggressiveness of gliomas and which is so far only detected by biopsy, an invasive technique that prevents repeated measurements and early detection.


METHODS
A total of 26 patients with low-grade gliomas participated in the study. All underwent a histopathological analysis and a multimodal MR examination (spectroscopic, anatomic, diffusion, perfusion, and postcontrast imaging).


RESULTS
EH was present (EH+) in 15 patients and absent (EH-) in 11. No differences were observed between EH- and EH+ groups when comparing spectroscopic and diffusion parameters. Perfusion measurements, however, allowed us to distinguish EH+ from EH-: the relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was found equal to 3.23 +/- 2.05 for EH+ and 1.33 +/- 0.46 for EH- (P = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
We have observed a strong correlation between the presence of EH and the increase of rCBF. Compared to conventional imaging, MR perfusion provides additional and complementary information that may be used for biopsy guidance, early detection of tumor aggressiveness, and noninvasive follow-ups.
Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (CRMBM), UMR CNRS 6612, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France. virginie.callot@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Virginie
V
Callot
Damien
D
Galanaud
Dominique
D
Figarella-Branger
Yann
Y
Lefur
Philippe
P
Metellus
François
F
Nicoli
Patrick
P
Cozzone
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine