BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and MR spectroscopy are noninvasive, quantitative tools for the preoperative assessment of gliomas with which the quantitative parameter fractional anisotropy (FA) and the concentration of neurometabolites N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) of the brain can be determined. Measurements of FA and NAA reflect the integrity of fiber tracts and the presence of neurons, respectively. This investigation examines changes of FA and NAA and compares these different aspects in architecture of gliomas after spatial coregistration. METHODS: DTI and chemical shift (1)H-MR spectroscopy was performed in 34 healthy volunteers and 69 patients with histologically confirmed (n = 48) or morphologically suspected (n = 21) non-necrotic brain glioma. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were placed in the tumor center (TC), the tumor border (TB), the normal-appearing white matter adjacent to the tumors (TNWM), and in the white matter of the contralateral hemisphere (NWMC). Median FA values and NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated in the patients' VOIs and the gray and white matter of the volunteers. Correlations of FA values and NAA ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Continuous changes of FA and NAA from the tumor center to the periphery (the adjacent white matter and the contra-lateral hemisphere, respectively) were observed, where median values were: TC: 0.73 +/- 0.45, 0.47 +/- 0.58, 0.17 +/- 0.15 (NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, FA); TB: 1.06 +/- 0.53, 1.00 +/- 0.15, 0.23 +/- 0.08; TNWM: 1.42 +/- 2.48, 1.21 +/- 0.95, 0.34 +/- 0.09; and NWMC: 1.63 +/- 0.72, 1.56 +/- 1.34, 0.38 +/- 0.08. Correlation of median FA values and NAA ratios in the cumulative group of patients was high (r = 0.99 [NAA/Cr], 0.95 [NAA/ Cho] at P < .01). Correlation between the individual NAA ratios and the FA values was moderate (r = 0.53 [NAA/Cr], 0.51 [NAA/Cho] at P < .01). CONCLUSION: In gliomas, the degree of tissue organization decreases continuously from the surrounding tissue toward the center of the tumor accompanied by a concordant decrease of NAA. This uniform behavior of FA and NAA reflects a decreasing integrity of both neuronal structures and fibers.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and MR spectroscopy are noninvasive, quantitative tools for the preoperative assessment of gliomas with which the quantitative parameter fractional anisotropy (FA) and the concentration of neurometabolites N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) of the brain can be determined. Measurements of FA and NAA reflect the integrity of fiber tracts and the presence of neurons, respectively. This investigation examines changes of FA and NAA and compares these different aspects in architecture of gliomas after spatial coregistration. METHODS: DTI and chemical shift (1)H-MR spectroscopy was performed in 34 healthy volunteers and 69 patients with histologically confirmed (n = 48) or morphologically suspected (n = 21) non-necrotic brain glioma. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were placed in the tumor center (TC), the tumor border (TB), the normal-appearing white matter adjacent to the tumors (TNWM), and in the white matter of the contralateral hemisphere (NWMC). Median FA values and NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated in the patients' VOIs and the gray and white matter of the volunteers. Correlations of FA values and NAA ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Continuous changes of FA and NAA from the tumor center to the periphery (the adjacent white matter and the contra-lateral hemisphere, respectively) were observed, where median values were: TC: 0.73 +/- 0.45, 0.47 +/- 0.58, 0.17 +/- 0.15 (NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, FA); TB: 1.06 +/- 0.53, 1.00 +/- 0.15, 0.23 +/- 0.08; TNWM: 1.42 +/- 2.48, 1.21 +/- 0.95, 0.34 +/- 0.09; and NWMC: 1.63 +/- 0.72, 1.56 +/- 1.34, 0.38 +/- 0.08. Correlation of median FA values and NAA ratios in the cumulative group of patients was high (r = 0.99 [NAA/Cr], 0.95 [NAA/ Cho] at P < .01). Correlation between the individual NAA ratios and the FA values was moderate (r = 0.53 [NAA/Cr], 0.51 [NAA/Cho] at P < .01). CONCLUSION: In gliomas, the degree of tissue organization decreases continuously from the surrounding tissue toward the center of the tumor accompanied by a concordant decrease of NAA. This uniform behavior of FA and NAA reflects a decreasing integrity of both neuronal structures and fibers.
Authors: John L Ulmer; Carmen V Salvan; Wade M Mueller; Hendrikus G Krouwer; Georgetta O Stroe; Ayse Aralasmak; Robert W Prost Journal: Technol Cancer Res Treat Date: 2004-12
Authors: Florian S Eichler; Ryuta Itoh; Peter B Barker; Susumu Mori; Elizabeth S Garrett; Peter C M van Zijl; Hugo W Moser; Gerald V Raymond; Elias R Melhem Journal: Radiology Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: Meng Law; Stanley Yang; Hao Wang; James S Babb; Glyn Johnson; Soonmee Cha; Edmond A Knopp; David Zagzag Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2003 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: A Rosemary Tate; Carles Majós; Angel Moreno; Franklyn A Howe; John R Griffiths; Carles Arús Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Matthew S Davitz; William E Wu; Brian J Soher; James S Babb; Ivan I Kirov; Jeffrey Huang; Girish Fatterpekar; Oded Gonen Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2016-08-28 Impact factor: 2.546
Authors: Andrew L Alexander; Samuel A Hurley; Alexey A Samsonov; Nagesh Adluru; Ameer Pasha Hosseinbor; Pouria Mossahebi; Do P M Tromp; Elizabeth Zakszewski; Aaron S Field Journal: Brain Connect Date: 2012-01-27
Authors: Esin Ozturk-Isik; Andrea Pirzkall; Kathleen R Lamborn; Soonmee Cha; Susan M Chang; Sarah J Nelson Journal: Transl Oncol Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 4.243
Authors: Jason M Warram; Esther de Boer; Melissa Korb; Yolanda Hartman; Joy Kovar; James M Markert; G Yancey Gillespie; Eben L Rosenthal Journal: Br J Neurosurg Date: 2015-06-15 Impact factor: 1.596