Advanced imaging parameters improve the prediction of diffuse lower-grade gliomas subtype, IDH mutant with no 1p19q codeletion: added value to the T2/FLAIR mismatch sign

Objectives: A combination of T2/FLAIR mismatch sign and advanced imaging parameters may improve the determination of molecular subtypes of diffuse lower-grade glioma. We assessed the diagnostic value of adding the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) to the T2/FLAIR mismatch sign for differentiation of the IDH mutation or 1p/19q codeletion.

Materials and methods: Preoperative conventional, diffusion-weighted, and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging were performed on 110 patients with diffuse lower-grade gliomas. The study population was classified into three groups using molecular subtype, namely IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion (IDHmut-Codel), IDH wild type (IDHwt) and IDH mutation and no 1p/19q codeletion (IDHmut-Noncodel). T2/FLAIR mismatch sign and the histogram parameters of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and normalised cerebral blood volume (nCBV) values were assessed. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to distinguish IDHmut-Noncodel from IDHmut-Codel and IDHwt and from IDHwt, and the performance was compared with that of single parameters using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC).

Results: Positive visual T2/FLAIR mismatch sign and higher nCBV skewness were significant variables to distinguish IDHmut-Noncodel from the other two groups (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81-0.96). A lower ADC10 was a significant variable for distinguishing IDHmut-Noncodel from the IDHwt group (AUC, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89). Adding ADC or CBV histogram parameters to T2/FLAIR mismatch sign improved performance in distinguishing IDHmut-Noncodel from the other two groups (AUC 0.882 vs. AUC 0.810) or from IDHwt (AUC 0.923 vs. AUC 0.868).

Conclusions: The combination of the T2/FLAIR mismatch sign with ADC or CBV histogram parameters can improve the identification of IDHmut-Noncodel diffuse lower-grade gliomas, which can be easily applied in clinical practice.

Key points: • The combination of the T2/FLAIR mismatch sign with the ADC or CBV histogram parameters can improve the identification of IDHmut-Noncodel diffuse lower-grade gliomas. • The multivariable model showed a significantly better performance for distinguishing the IDHmut-Noncodel group from other diffuse lower-grade gliomas than the T2/FLAIR mismatch sign alone or any single parameter. • The IDHmut-Noncodel type was associated with intermediate treatment outcomes; therefore, the identification of IDHmut-Noncodel diffuse lower-grade gliomas could be helpful for determining the clinical approach.