E2307. Differentiating Low-Grade From High-Grade Ependymomas: Comparison of DCE Perfusion MRI and ADC
Authors
Julio Arevalo Perez;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Kyung Peck;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Karem Gharzeddine;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Karim Rebeiz;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Andrei Holodny;
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Objective:
Differentiating low-grade and high-grade ependymomas on the basis of conventional MR imaging is often challenging. Both Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) perfusion MRI have demonstrated utility for predicting glioma grade and prognosis in primary brain tumors. Our objective was to compare the performance of plasma volume (Vp) derived from DCE MRI, and ADC in differentiating between grade 2 and grade 3 ependymomas.
Materials and Methods:
Twenty patients with biopsy proven ependymomas were retrospectively assessed. The patients were classified according to tumor grade: 10 low-grade ependymomas (grade 2) and 10 high-grade ependymomas (grade 3). Volumes-of-interest were calculated and transferred to DCE perfusion and ADC maps. Maximum values for Vp and minimum values for ADC were calculated. Comparisons between high-grade and low-grade ependymomas were performed. A Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of corrected p = .01 was used to evaluate the differences.
Results:
The plasma volume values for grade 3 ependymomas were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those for grade 2. ADC values were lower in high-grade lesions; however, no statistically significant differences were found.
Conclusion:
The results of our study suggest that DCE perfusion MRI performs better than ADC in noninvasive differentiation between grade 2 and grade 3 ependymomas.
