Clinical parameters outweigh diffusion- and perfusion-derived MRI parameters in predicting survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relevance of clinical data, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion and the volume transfer constant (ktrans) from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion for predicting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve glioblastoma patients.



Preoperative MR scans including standardized contrast-enhanced T1 (cT1), T2 - fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), ADC, DSC, and DCE of 125 patients with subsequent histopathologically confirmed glioblastoma were performed on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. ADC, DSC, and DCE parameters were analyzed in semiautomatically segmented tumor volumes on contrast-enhanced (CE) cT1 and hyperintense signal changes on T2 FLAIR (ED). Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses including age, sex, extent of resection (EOR), and KPS were performed to assess the influence of each parameter on OS and PFS.



Univariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated a significant association of age, KPS, and EOR with PFS and age, KPS, EOR, lower ADC, and higher rCBV with OS. Multivariable analysis showed independent significance of male sex, KPS, EOR, and increased rCBVCEfor PFS, and age, sex, KPS, and EOR for OS.



MRI parameters help to predict OS in a univariate Cox regression analysis, and increased rCBVCEis associated with shorter PFS in the multivariable model. In summary, however, our findings suggest that the relevance of MRI parameters is outperformed by clinical parameters in a multivariable analysis, which limits their prognostic value for survival prediction at the time of initial diagnosis.
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Sina
S
Burth
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Philipp
P
Kickingereder
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Oliver
O
Eidel
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Diana
D
Tichy
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
David
D
Bonekamp
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Lukas
L
Weberling
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Antje
A
Wick
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Sarah
S
Löw
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Anne
A
Hertenstein
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Martha
M
Nowosielski
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Heinz-Peter
HP
Schlemmer
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Wolfgang
W
Wick
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Martin
M
Bendszus
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (S.B., P.K., O.E., D.B., L.W., M.B., A.R.); Division of Bioststatistics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (D.T.); Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany (A.W., S.L., A.H., W.W.); Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (M.N.); Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany (H.S.).
Alexander
A
Radbruch
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D000071937:Cerebral Blood Volume; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D003287:Contrast Media
MRI; diffusion; glioblastoma; perfusion; survival