Value of MR perfusion weighted imaging in differentiating the tumor grade of cerebral gliomas

Objective To explore the value of relative cerebral blood volume(rCBV), relative cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and relative mean through time(rMTT) in differentiating the tumor grade of cerebral gliomas. Methods This study involved 34 patients (9 cases of grade Ⅱ,11 cases of grade Ⅲ,14 cases of grade Ⅳ) which were identified as gliomas proved by histopathologic. MR perfusion weighted imaging and conventional MR imaging were underwent on them preoperatively. The perfusion weighted imaging datas were deconvoluted to get a color map of CBV, CBF and MTT. The value of rCBV, rCBF and rMTT of each lesion were calculated and correlated with histopathologic grading of gliomas. Results The value of rCBV, rCBF and rMTT of grade Ⅱ,grade Ⅲ,grade Ⅳ gliomas was (2.68±1.37, 4.99±2.34,6.69±1.88), (2.52±1.29,4.77±1.97,6.97±1.73) and (1.02±0.30,1.07±0.15,1.08±0.22), respectively. The value of rCBV and rCBF had statistically difference in each groups (P 0.05).Conclusions MR perfusion weighted imaging is useful in the preoperative assessment of the histopathologic grade of gliomas. The value of rCBF combine with the value of rCBV is more useful in differentiating the tumor grade of cerebral gliomas. Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging ;  Perfusion weighted imaging ;  Cerebral glioma ;  Cerebral blood volume ;  Cerebral blood flow ;