Potential
of High Field Functional
MRI in the Neuroradiological
Diagnosis of
Brain
Tumours
C.
Bonicelli,
A.
Bacci,
R.
Agati,
M.
Leonardi
SUMMARY – Functional
3
tesla
magnetic
resonance
imaging
(MRI)
techniques
such
as
diffusion
and
perfusion
imaging
and
MR
spectroscopy
(MRS)
allow
a
more
accurate
diagnosis
of
central
nervous
system
tumours.
This
retrospective
study
analysed
the
MRI
scans
of
121
consecutive
patients
with
a
diagnosis
of
glial
brain
tumours
who
underwent
surgery
and/or
biopsy
and
whose
histological
reports
were
available.
Our
aim
was
to
establish
if
and
how
functional
MRI
techniques
had
enhanced
the
diagnostic
accuracy
with
respect
to
morphological
examination.
To
quantify
the
diagnostic
contribution
of
these
techniques
and
their
predictive
value,
a
questionnaire
was
compiled
by
an
observer
blinded
to
the
neuroradiological
diagnosis
and
to
the
histological
results
after
surgery/biopsy.
Patients
were
divided
into
two
groups
based
on
the
time
of
3T
MRI
examination
performed:
before
or
after
surgery/biopsy.
In
the
group
of
non-operated
patients
low
grade
gliomas
could
be
distinguished
from
high
grade
malignant
tumours,
whereas
in
the
group
of
operated
patients
signs
of
tumour
persistence
or
recurrence
could
be
distinguished
from
the
effects
of
previous
treatments.
Functional
MRI
techniques
improved
the
accuracy
of
diagnosis
with
respect
to
morphological
examination
alone
in
both
groups
of
patients:
areas
of
increased
cellularity,
neoangiogenesis
or
metabolic
changes
were
identified
confirming
diagnosis,
whereas
methodological
errors
were
disclosed
in
cases
of
incorrect
diagnosis.
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