Preoperative glioma grading by MR diffusion and MR spectroscopic imaging

Abstract Objectives To assess the diagnostic accuracy of DW-MRI, ADC value, and MRS in preoperative glioma grading because of its importance in treatment planning. Patients and methods A prospective study included 30 patients with gliomas, based on CT and cMRI findings, referred from Neurosurgery Department for DWI and MRS. Results were correlated with histopathological diagnosis after surgical resection. Results ADC values were significantly higher in low grade gliomas relative to high grade ones. The lowest value was for GBM, 100% sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPP in glioma grading. MRS revealed higher Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios in high grade neoplasms and characteristic elevated lipid peak with statistical significant difference between low grade and high grade gliomas. MRS was more accurate than ADC value in detecting peritumoral infiltration of high grade gliomas, but there were no statistically significant differences between anaplastic and GBM in tumoral and peritumoral regions. Conclusion DW-MRI had higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than cMRI and MRS in glioma grading while MRS is more accurate than ADC value in assessing peri-tumoral infiltration based on high metabolite ratios in peri-tumoral tissue for anaplastic glioma and GBM, but there were no statistically significant differences between high grade groups.