Diffusion tensor imaging of XXXX at 3T: a potential tool for assessing white matter tract invasion?

@entity1 @entity1313 @entity5 @entity4 @entity11 @entity854 @entity3
AIM: To determine whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of @entity1313 can demonstrate abnormalities distal to hyperintensities on T2-weighted images, and possibly relate these to @entity5 grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty @entity1 with histologically confirmed @entity5 , both @entity11 (high and low grade) and @entity3 , were imaged at 3T using T2-weighted and DTI sequences. Regions of interest (ROI) were @entity5 , in white matter at various distances from the @entity5 and in areas of abnormality on DTI that appeared normal on T2-weighted images. The relative anisotropy index (RAI)-a measure of white matter organization, was calculated for these ROI. RESULTS: The abnormality on DTI was larger than that seen on T2-weighted images in 10/13 @entity1 (77%) with high-grade @entity11 . @entity854 were seen in the contralateral white matter in 4/13 (30%) of these cases. In these high-grade @entity5 the RAI in areas of white matter disruption with normal appearance on T2-weighted images was reduced (0.19+/-0.04). Even excluding @entity1 with previous radiotherapy this difference remains significant. In all non high-grade @entity5 (WHO grade II @entity11 and @entity3 ) the @entity5 extent on DTI was identical to the abnormalities shown on T2-weighted imaging and RAI measurements were not reduced (0.3+/-0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Subtle white matter disruption can be identified using DTI in @entity1 with high-grade @entity11 . Such disruption is not identified in association with @entity3 or low-grade @entity11 despite these @entity5 producing significant mass effect and @entity4 . We suggest the changes in DTI may be due to @entity5 infiltration and that the DTI may provide a useful method of detecting occult white matter invasion by @entity11 .
