Vasogenic Edema Pattern in Brain Metastasis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship of the presence and amount of vasogenic edema with origin, type, and grade of primary cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Radiology Clinic, Ankara, Turkey, from July 2017 to October 2021.

METHODOLOGY

Brain MRI scans of 292 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, origin, type, and grade of primary cancer were determined. Metastasis type, and presence of vasogenic edema accompanying metastatic lesion were questioned. In cases of vasogenic edema accompanying metastatic lesions, the largest diameter of the vasogenic edema mass complex was measured in T2 sequences. In the contrast-enhanced series, the largest diameter of the metastatic lesion was measured, and the edema-mass ratio (EMR) was calculated by proportioning the diameter of the edema mass complex to the diameter of the mass.

RESULTS

The frequency of vasogenic edema was found higher in patients with lung cancer compared to other primaries. The EMR was found statistically significantly higher in patients with primary lung cancer (p=0.001). This was particularly evident in the adenocarcinoma group. In the patient group with primary breast cancer, EMR was found significantly lower in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma. (IDC→1.95±0.66 vs. Other→2.48±0.52, Z=-2.301, p=0.021).

CONCLUSION

The amount and presence of vasogenic edema in patients with brain metastases may differ according to the origin and type of primary tumour.

KEY WORDS

Brain edema, Metastatic disease, Magnetic resonance imaging.