Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: February | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 19-28
DWI And ADC Measurements Value in Benign and Malignant Pediatric Primary Brain Tumors Differentiation
Herman-Sucharska I1, Karcz P1, Dubis A1, Dobrowolska-Bąk M1, Kwiatkowski St2, Adamek D3
1Department of Electroradiology, Faculty of Health Sciences,
2Department of Neurosurgery, University Children’s Hospital of Krakow,
3Department of Neuropathology,
Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Michałowskiego 12, 31-126 Krakow, Poland
Corresponding Author: Izabela Herman-Sucharska
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of MR diffusion techniques in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children.
A retrospective analysis involved 49 brain MR diffusion studies of children (under 16 years of age) with a histologically confirmed tumor. The analyzed group included 31 primary benign and 18 primary malignant CNS tumors. MR exams were conducted in 2009-2012 at the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Voxel Medical Diagnostics Centre at the Children's University Hospital in Cracow. MRI was performed using the 1,5T (GE) magnetic field induction MR system. DWI MR was performed at b 0 and 1500. ADC maps were made using GE, Functool software.
The values of the DWI signal and the ADC ratio from the tumor area and peritumoral edema were analyzed. The value of the DWI signal and the ADC factor from those locations was calculated for each patient. A statistical comparison of medians between primary benign and primary malignant brain tumors was made. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test. The results were considered statistically significant for p <0.05. It was found that,
- The ADC value was statistically significantly higher in the primary benign compared to the primary malignant CNS tumors.
- No statistically significant differences in the value of the DWI signals were found.
- The value of the DWI signal from the tumor area and the peritumoral edema decreases with increase of the grade of malignancy of the tumor.
- The value of ADC in the tumor area decreases and from peritumoral edema increases with the degree of malignancy of the brain tumor.
The conducted studies confirmed the usefulness of assessing the value of the DWI signal and the ADC factor in differentiating cerebral tumors.
Key words: MRI, DWI, primary brain tumor, children.