Diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating mid-course responders to chemotherapy for long-bone osteosarcoma compared to the histologic response: an update.

BACKGROUND Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been described to correlate with tumoural necrosis in response to preoperative chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. OBJECTIVE To assess the accuracy of DWI in evaluating the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the mid-course treatment of long-bone osteosarcoma and in predicting survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a prospective single-centre study over a continuous period of 11 years. Consecutive patients younger than 20 years treated with a neoadjuvant regimen for peripheral conventional osteosarcoma were eligible for inclusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DWI was performed at diagnosis, and mid- and end-course chemotherapy with mean apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) calculated at each time point. A percentage less than or equal to 10% of the viable residual tissue at the histological analysis of the surgical specimen was defined as a good responder to chemotherapy. Survival comparisons were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Uni- and multivariate analyses with ADC change were performed by Cox modelling. This is an expansion and update of our previous work. RESULTS Twenty-six patients between the ages of 4.8 and 19.6 years were included, of whom 14 were good responders. At mid-course chemotherapy, good responders had significantly higher mean ADC values (P=0.046) and a higher increase in ADC (P=0.015) than poor responders. The ADC change from diagnosis to mid-course MRI did not appear to be a prognosticator of survival and did not impact survival rates of both groups. CONCLUSION DWI at mid-course preoperative chemotherapy for osteosarcoma should be considered to evaluate the degree of histological necrosis and to predict survival. The anticipation of a response to neoadjuvant treatment by DWI may have potential implications on preoperative management.