Measurement of the vascularity and vascular leakage of gliomas by double-echo dynamic magnetic resonance imaging: a preliminary study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the vascularity and vascular leakage of well-enhanced gliomas by double-echo dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and two patients with juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA) were studied. Double-echo dynamic MR imaging was utilized to separate the T2* shortening effect and the T1 shortening effect. The former was represented by the vascularity index, and the latter was represented by the leakage index. These indexes were compared with histopathologic data.

RESULTS

The mean vascularity index of the GBM was higher than that of the JPA (mean +/- SD, 3.48 +/- 1.57 [GBM] versus 0.51 +/- 0.29 [JPA]), and the mean leakage index of the JPA was higher than that of the GBM (1.35 +/- 0.87 [JPA] versus 0.27 +/- 0.15 [GBM]). Abundant vascularity was noted in the tight interstitial space in the pathologic specimen of GBM. Conversely, sparse vasculature was observed in the wide interstitial space in the pathologic specimen of JPA.

CONCLUSION

This method may enable better characterization of grade in well-enhanced glioma by providing the information on the vascularity and leakage indexes.