The Value of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) in the Differentiation of Pseudoprogression and Recurrence of Intracranial Gliomas.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in assessing postoperative changes in intracranial gliomas.

METHOD: A total of fifty-one patients who had new enhanced lesions after surgical resection followed by standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy were collected retrospectively from October 2014 to June 2021. The patients were divided into a pseudoprogression group (15 cases) and a recurrence group (36 cases) according to the pathological results of the second operation or a follow-up of more than six months. The follow-up data of all patients were complete, and DCE-MRI was performed. The images were processed to obtain the quantitative parameters K trans, Ve, and Kep and the semiquantitative parameter iAUC, which were analysed with relevant statistical software.

RESULTS

First, the difference in K trans and iAUC values between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), and the difference in Ve and Kep values was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Second, by comparing the area under the curve, threshold, sensitivity and specificity of K trans, and iAUC, it was found that the iAUC threshold value was slightly higher than that of K trans, and the specificity of K trans was equal to that of iAUC, while the area under the curve and sensitivity of K trans were higher than those of iAUC. Third, K trans and iAUC had high accuracy in diagnosing recurrence and pseudoprogression, and K trans had higher accuracy than iAUC.

CONCLUSION

In this study, DCE-MRI has a certain diagnostic value in the early differentiation of recurrence and pseudoprogression, offering a new method for the diagnosis and assessment of gliomas after surgery.