Faculty Collaboration Database

Role of Advanced MR Imaging in Diagnosis of Neurological Malignancies: Current Status and Future Perspective. J Integr Neurosci 2023 May 15;22(3):73

Date

06/01/2023

Pubmed ID

37258452

DOI

10.31083/j.jin2203073

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85160790365 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

Lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) can present with numerous and overlapping radiographical and clinical features that make diagnosis difficult based exclusively on history, physical examination, and traditional imaging modalities. Given that there are significant differences in optimal treatment protocols for these various CNS lesions, rapid and non-invasive diagnosis could lead to improved patient care. Recently, various advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques showed promising methods to differentiate between various tumors and lesions that conventional MRI cannot define by comparing their physiologic characteristics, such as vascularity, permeability, oxygenation, and metabolism. These advanced MRI techniques include dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, Golden-Angle Radial Sparse Parallel imaging (GRASP), Blood oxygen level-dependent functional MRI (BOLD fMRI), and arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI. In this article, a narrative review is used to discuss the current trends in advanced MRI techniques and potential future applications in identifying difficult-to-distinguish CNS lesions. Advanced MRI techniques were found to be promising non-invasive modalities to differentiate between paraganglioma, schwannoma, and meningioma. They are also considered promising methods to differentiate gliomas from lymphoma, post-radiation changes, pseudoprogression, demyelination, and metastasis. Advanced MRI techniques allow clinicians to take advantage of intrinsic biological differences in CNS lesions to better identify the etiology of these lesions, potentially leading to more effective patient care and a decrease in unnecessary invasive procedures. More clinical studies with larger sample sizes should be encouraged to assess the significance of each advanced MRI technique and the specificity and sensitivity of each radiologic parameter.

Author List

Eraky AM, Beck RT, Treffy RW, Aaronson DM, Hedayat H

Authors

Ryan T. Beck MD Assistant Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Hirad S. Hedayat MD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Brain Neoplasms
Central Nervous System Neoplasms
Glioma
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Meningeal Neoplasms