Comparison of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MR imaging and arterial spin labeling MR imaging in gliomas

Abstract

Gliomas grading is important for treatment plan; we aimed to investigate the application of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in gliomas grading, by comparing with the three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (3D pCASL). 24 patients (13 high grade gliomas and 11 low grade gliomas) underwent IVIM DWI and 3D pCASL imaging before operation; maps of fast diffusion coefficient (D ∗), slow diffusion coefficient (D), fractional perfusion-related volume (f), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF) were calculated and then coregistered to generate the corresponding parameter values. We found CBF and D ∗ were higher in the high grade gliomas, whereas ADC, D, and f were lower (all P<0.05). In differentiating the high from low grade gliomas, the maximum areas under the curves (AUC) of D ∗, CBF, and ADC were 0.857, 0.85, and 0.902, respectively. CBF was negatively correlated with f in tumor (r=-0.619, P=0.001). ADC was positively correlated with D in both tumor and white matter (r=0.887, P=0.000 and r=0.824, P=0.000, resp.). There was no correlation between CBF and D ∗ in both tumor and white matter (P>0.05). IVIM DWI showed more efficiency than 3D pCASL but less validity than conventional DWI in differentiating the high from low grade gliomas.