Quantitative Evaluation of Astrocytic Tumor Vascularity Using CTA: A Preliminary Study

Objective To evaluate the relationship between CT angiography(CTA) tumor vessel index(TVI) and MVD,and the sensitivity and specificity of the index in grading astrocytic tumors.Materials and Methods Fifty-three patients with brain tumors underwent CTA examination,and the astrocytic tumors confirmed by operations and pathology(n=30) were selected and divided into high grade group(n=19) and low grade goup(n=11).CTA scanning on the brain was performed by 64 slice spiral CT and the data were analyzed by ADW 4.2 software.Vessel index on the tumor vessel concentrated areas and the normal brain tissues in the opposite side were measured.Results High grade group showed significant higher TVI as compared with the low grade goup(P0.01) and both high and low grade groups showed significant higher TVI as compared with the normal brain tissues in opposite side(P0.01).The TVI were strongly and rank correlated with tumor MVD in astrocytic tumors(rs=0.805,P0.01).The under ROC curve area of the TVI between these 2 group was 0.928(P0.01).When the optimal limit value(TVI = 48.295%) was selected for differentiation of high and low grade astrocytic tumors,the sensitivity and specificity were 84.2% and 91.9% respectively.Conclusion CTA is able to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the new vessels in astrocytic tumors.The CTA TVI show high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating the diagnosis of high-and low-grade astrocytic tumors.