meningioma and cavernous haemangioma arterial spin labelling perfusion imaging in the differentiation of parasellar The role of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and three-dimensional

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI) and three-dimensional arterial spin labelling perfusion imaging (3D-ASL) in distinguishingcavernous haemangioma from parasellar meningioma, using histological data as a referencestandard.Methods: Patients with parasellar meningioma or parasellar cavernous haemangioma underwentconventional T 1 - and T 2 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by DWI and3D-ASL using a 3.0 Tesla MRI. The minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (minADC) from DWIand the maximal normalized cerebral blood flow (nCBF) from 3D-ASL were measured in eachtumour. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology.Results: MinADC was significantly lower and nCBF significantly higher in meningioma (n¼19)than cavernous haemangioma (n¼15). There was a significant negative correlation betweenminADC and nCBF (r¼ 0.605).Conclusion: DWI and 3D-ASL are useful in differentiating cavernous haemangiomas fromparasellar meningiomas, particularly in situations when the appearance on conventional MRIsequences is otherwise ambiguous.