Peritumoral Edema in Intracranial Tumors Evaluated by Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Objective To evaluate quantitatively the diffusion change in the peritumoral edema of intracranial tumor by using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI).Methods 43 cases of intracranial tumors(including 12 cases of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ astrocytic tumors,15 cases of meningiomas and 16 cases of metastases)were classified as three groups and was performed by using DTI.Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)values and fractional anisotropy(FA)values were measured on peritumoral edema and the contralateral normal brain white matter on ADC and FA imaging of each patient.The ADC and FA values were compared between peritumoral edema and contralateral normal brain white matter.The ADC and FA values of peritumoral edema were compared among the three kinds of tumors.Results The ADC and FA values of peritumoral edema were significantly higher and lower than those of contralateral normal brain white matter in all three kinds of tumors,P 0.05.The ADC values of peritumoral edema in patients with metastatic tumors(1.61×10-3 mm2/s)were significantly higher than those of peritumoral brain edema in patients with meningiomas(1.34×10-3 mm2/s),P 0.05.The FA values of peritumoral edema in patients with astrocytic tumors(0.16)were significantly lower than those of peritumoral edema in patients with meningiomas(0.24),P 0.05.Conclusion Diffusion tensor imaging can evaluate quantitatively diffusion change of peritumoral edema,which is a new method for clinical functional study of intracranial tumors.