Comparison of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging and Arterial Spin Labeling MR Imaging in Gliomas

Gliomas grading is important for treatment plan; we aimed to investigate the application of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in gliomas grading, by comparing with the three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL). 24 patients (13 high grade gliomas and 11 low grade gliomas) underwent IVIM DWI and 3D pCASL imaging before operation; maps of fast diffusion coefficient (), slow diffusion coefficient (), fractional perfusion-related volume (), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF) were calculated and then coregistered to generate the corresponding parameter values. We found CBF and were higher in the high grade gliomas, whereas ADC, , and were lower (all ). In differentiating the high from low grade gliomas, the maximum areas under the curves (AUC) of , CBF, and ADC were 0.857, 0.85, and 0.902, respectively. CBF was negatively correlated with in tumor (, ). ADC was positively correlated with in both tumor and white matter (, and , , resp.). There was no correlation between CBF and in both tumor and white matter (). IVIM DWI showed more efficiency than 3D pCASL but less validity than conventional DWI in differentiating the high from low grade gliomas.