Characterization of Glioblastoma by Contrast-Enhanced Flair Sequences

The tissues placed on the edge of a glioblastoma's necrotic cavities are more vascularized than other pseudocystic central nervous system (CNS) tumours, both benign and malignant. The post-contrast enhancement is greater in Fluid-Attenuated Inversion-Recovery (FLAIR) images than in Spin Echo T1-weighted (SE T1w) sequences above all in the CNS tissues with a low concentration of gadolinium. The purpose of this study was to distinguish pseudocystic glioblastomas from other cystic CNS tumors by comparing post-contrast pseudocystic rim enhancement in FLAIR and SE T1-w magnetic resonance (MR) images. We investigated 32 extensive sets of MR images relating to histologically diagnosed pseudocystic CNS tumors; 14/32 were glioblastoma. Fast Spin Echo (FSE) T2-weighted and Proton Density, SE T1w and FSE FLAIR sequences were acquired in all the studies. After contrast media administration SE T1w and FLAIR sequences were acquired. In post-contrast T1w SE and T2w FLAIR acquisitions, pseudocyst rim enhancement was eval...