title: Prediction of meningioma consistency using fractional anisotropy value measured by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative planning for meningiomas requires information about tumor consistency as well as location and size. In the present study the authors aimed to determine whether the fractional anisotropy (FA) value calculated on the basis of preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor (DT) imaging could predict meningioma consistency.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 29 patients with intracranial meningiomas, MR DT imaging was performed preoperatively, and the FA values of the tumors were calculated. Tumor consistency was intraoperatively determined as hard or soft, and the histological diagnosis of the tumor was established.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 29 tumors, 11 were classified as hard and 18 as soft. The FA values of fibroblastic meningiomas were significantly higher than those of meningothelial meningiomas (p = 0.002). The FA values of hard tumors were significantly higher than those of soft tumors (p = 0.0003). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the FA value was a significant independent predictor of tumor consistency (p = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FA value calculated from preoperative MR DT imaging predicts meningioma consistency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan. hkashi@iwate-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kashimura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Yasunari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otawara
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanbara
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care