Benefit of 3T Diffusion-weighted Imaging in Comparison to Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging for the Evaluation of Disseminated Lesions in Primary Malignant Brain Tumors

抄録

Purpose: We aimed to determine whether 3T diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has an additive value relative to contrast-enhanced MR imaging for the detection of disseminated lesions in patients with primary malignant brain tumors.

Methods: We included consecutive 12 patients with nodular disseminated lesions of primary malignant brain tumors that were confirmed by surgery or follow-up MR imaging. All underwent conventional MR imaging, DWI at b = 1000 and 3000 s/mm², post-contrast T₁-weighted and 3D gradient-echo imaging at 3T. For the largest lesion per person, two radiologists independently evaluated the presence of additional information on DWI compared with postcontrast MR images using a 4-point scoring system. On DW images, one radiologist measured the lesion-to-brain contrast ratio (LBCR).

Results: Compared with postcontrast studies, radiologists 1 and 2, respectively, assigned more apparent lesion conspicuity in 2 (17%) and 1 (8%) DWI at b = 1000 s/mm² and 4 (33%) and 5 (42%) DWI at b = 3000 s/mm² studies. For one of them, the mean score was significantly higher for b = 3000 s/mm² than b = 1000 s/mm² (P < 0.05). Interobserver agreement for DWI at b = 1000 s/mm² and b = 3000 s/mm² was very good (κ = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.63–1.00) and excellent (κ = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.78–1.00), respectively. The mean LBCR was significantly higher for DWI at b = 3000 s/mm² than DWI at b = 1000 s/mm² (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: In the detection of disseminated lesions in patients with primary malignant brain tumors, 3T DWI has an additive value relative to contrast-enhanced MR imaging. DWI at b = 3000 s/mm² may be more useful than DWI at b = 1000 s/mm².