Application of arterial spin labeling for preoperative evaluation of gliomas

Objective To investigate the clinical value of arterial spin labeling(ASL) technique for preoperatively evaluating microvascular perfusion of gliomas.Methods Twenty-three patients with gliomas(with histological diagnosis of high-grade gliomas in 14 cases and low-grade gliomas in 9 cases) were routinely examined by 3.0T MRI including ASL before operation.The maximal tumor blood flow(TBFmax) and the cerebral blood flow(CBF) of opposite white matter,grey matter and hemisphere were measured on maps.Results On the ASL maps,high grade glioma showed a higher microvascular perfusion and low grade glioma showed a lower microvascular perfusion.The ratios of TBFmax to CBF of opposite white matter were 6.32±2.79 for high grade and 3.00±1.66 for low grade(P0.01),which of opposite grey matter were 1.25±0.66 and 0.65±0.45(P0.05) and of opposite hemisphere were 4.10±1.92 and 1.86±1.57(P0.01),respectively.Conclusion ASL may be a suitable method for the evaluation of microvascular perfusion,and is helpful in grading gliomas.