title: Using R2* values to evaluate brain tumours on magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the usefulness of the R2* value in assessing the histopathological grade of glioma at magnetic resonance imaging and differentiating various brain tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients with brain tumours underwent R2* mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging examinations. ANOVA was performed to analyse R2* values among four groups of glioma and among high-grade gliomas (grades III and IV), low-grade gliomas (grades I and II), meningiomas, and brain metastasis. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationships between the R2* values or apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the histopathological grade of gliomas. R2* values of low- and high-grade gliomas were analysed with the receiver-operator characteristic curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  R2* values were significantly different among high-grade gliomas, low-grade gliomas, meningiomas, and brain metastasis, but not between grade I and grade II or between grade III and grade IV. The R2* value (18.73) of high-grade gliomas provided a very high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating low-grade gliomas. A strong correlation existed between the R2* value and the pathological grade of gliomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  R2* mapping is a useful sequence for determining grade of gliomas and in distinguishing benign from malignant tumours. R2* values are better than ADC for characterising gliomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Magnetic resonance imaging parameters are increasingly used to assess cerebral lesions. • R2* values are better than diffusion weighting for characterising gliomas. • R2* values can help distinguish among different grades of glioma. • Significant difference existed in R2* values between high- and low-grade gliomas.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Medical Image Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1, Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, China, 330006, wuxiaoshui@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhenghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult