Prospective glioma grading using single-dose dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI

•Prospective glioma grading.•Comparison between single dose and double dose DCE-MRI perfusion study.•Correlation of cerebral blood volume with mitotic index and Ki-67 in glioma.•Sensitivity and specificity of glioma grading using single dose contrast DCE-MRI.

AimTo evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of single-dose dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in prospective evaluation of glioma grading and to correlate the relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) values with mitotic and ki-67 indexes obtained at histopathology.Materials and methodsA total of 53 histologically proven patients with glioma were included in this study. DCE-MRI perfusion with a single dose of contrast medium was included in brain tumour protocol and prospective grading of glioma into low and high grade was done based on a previously reported rCBV cut-off value of 3. Tumours with rCBV ≥3 were considered to be high grade and rCBV <3 were considered to be low grade. The sensitivity and specificity of the cut-off value were estimated. Ki-67 and mitotic indexes were also obtained on histopathological analysis along with histological grading.ResultsBased on pre-defined rCBV cut-off values, prospective grading of low- and high-grade glioma was achieved with a sensitivity and specificity of 97.22% and 100%, respectively. Significant correlation was found between the mitotic/ki-67 indexes and rCBV values when data for high- and low-grade tumours was combined.ConclusionDCE-MRI performed with a single dose of contrast medium is as effective as a protocol with a double-dose of contrast medium for glioma grading using 3 T MRI and could be added to the routine evaluation protocol of brain tumours.