Role of Diffusion-weighted Imaging, Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Evaluating Histopathologically Confirmed Brain Tumors in 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of physiological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiatingtype and grades of tumor and correlation with prospective histopathology results.Materials and Methods: We evaluated 70 patients in 3-tesla MRI preoperatively using conventional and physiological MRsequences (diffusion, perfusion, and spectroscopy) of common brain tumors who were prospectively confirmed by histopathology.Post-imaging analysis was done by available software and ratio was calculated. Data were expressed as mean ± standarddeviation and median (range) and Kolmogorov–Smirnov analysis was used to check distribution. Multiple statistical tests wereapplied and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted wherever feasible.Results: We obtained a significant difference in spectroscopic parameters, relative cerebral blood volume, and apparent diffusioncoefficient values between different tumor groups and also between different tumor grades. ROC curve plotted among groupsshowed sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic capability. Time-intensity curve showed a significant difference between differenttumor groups and correlation with grades of tumor.Conclusion: We propose an algorithm for differentiating different types and grades of common brain tumor using physiologicalMRI in addition to conventional MR sequences.