Gliomas: predicting time to progression or survival with cerebral blood volume measurements at dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging

Radiology. 2008 May;247(2):490-8. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2472070898. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Abstract

Purpose: To retrospectively determine whether relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) measurements can be used to predict clinical outcome in patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and specifically whether patients who have gliomas with a high initial relative CBV have more rapid progression than those who have gliomas with a low relative CBV.

Materials and methods: Approval for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study was obtained from the Institutional Board of Research Associates, with waiver of informed consent. One hundred eighty-nine patients (122 male and 67 female patients; median age, 43 years; range, 4-80 years) were examined with dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material-enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and were followed up clinically with MR imaging (median follow-up, 334 days). Log-rank tests were used to evaluate the association between relative CBV and time to progression by using Kaplan-Meier curves. Binary logistic regression was used to determine whether age, sex, and relative CBV were associated with an adverse event (progressive disease or death).

Results: Values for the mean relative CBV for patients according to each clinical response were as follows: 1.41 +/- 0.13 (standard deviation) for complete response (n = 4), 2.36 +/- 1.78 for stable disease (n = 41), 4.84 +/- 3.32 for progressive disease (n = 130), and 3.82 +/- 1.93 for death (n = 14). Kaplan-Meier estimates of median time to progression in days indicated that patients with a relative CBV of less than 1.75 had a median time to progression of 3585 days, whereas patients with a relative CBV of more than 1.75 had a time to progression of 265 days. Age and relative CBV were also independent predictors for clinical outcome.

Conclusion: Dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging can be used to predict median time to progression in patients with gliomas, independent of pathologic findings. Patients who have HGGs and LGGs with a high relative CBV (>1.75) have a significantly more rapid time to progression than do patients who have gliomas with a low relative CBV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Area Under Curve
  • Blood Volume
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Contrast Media
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA