Aim: To investigate the role of the diffusion MR weighted sequence in the pre-operative grading of gliomas, and its application in defining the different components of these tumours.
Materials and methods: Seventeen patients with gliomas (eight high grade, nine low grade) had diffusion weighted imaging. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of different components of tumours were measured.
Results: ADC of the cystic portion of the tumour was significantly higher than ADCs of the enhanced tumour, non-enhanced tumour and perifocal oedema (P < 0.01). No significant difference in ADC values between low grade and high grade glioma (P > 0.7) was found nor was there any difference between oligoglioma and non-oligoglioma (P > 0.29).
Conclusion: ADC value was useful to differentiate the cystic from the solid components of the tumours. However, it was not useful in pre-operative grading of glioma.
Copyright 2002 The Royal College of Radiologists.