Formation and resolution of white matter oedema in various types of brain tumours.

Following infusion of 200 ml of Iopamidol for 1 hour the propagation of extravasated contrast medium around different types of 12 brain tumours was examined and imaged via CT. Increasing volume of expanding peritumoural contrast enhanced brain tissue was measured by integrating volumes of planimetrically measured enhanced area on CT slice of 0.5 cm in thickness. So far our data failed to demonstrate differences in the peritumoural contrast expansion between the different types of tumours. Formation and resolution as well as the speed of oedema propagation were determined by calculation of the increasing volume of the enhanced peritumoural brain tissue. Average formation rate of oedema fluid from 1 cm3 of tumour was 0.06 ml/hr, and was lower in larger tumours, while formation rate of oedema fluid from whole tumour was higher in larger tumours. Average resolution rate of oedema fluid during the passage through 1 cm3 of the peritumoural white matter was 0.03 ml/hr, and was not affected by tumour size. Average speed of oedema propagation was 0.59 mm/hr, and was higher in larger tumours. The main therapeutic effect of steroid in peritumoural oedema was a reduction in formation rate of oedema fluid.