1. Assessing the Validity of Diffusion Weighted Imaging Models: A Study in Patients with Post-Surgical Lower-Grade Glioma.
- Author
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van der Hoorn A, Manusiwa LE, van der Weide HL, Sinnige PF, Huitema RB, Brouwer CL, Klos J, Borra RJH, Dierckx RAJO, Rakers SE, Buunk AM, Spikman JM, Renken RJ, Bosma I, Enting RH, Kramer MCA, and van der Weijden CWJ
- Abstract
Background: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is used for monitoring purposes for lower-grade glioma (LGG). While the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is clinically used, various DWI models have been developed to better understand the micro-environment. However, the validity of these models and how they relate to each other is currently unknown. Therefore, this study assesses the validity and agreement of these models. Methods: Fourteen post-treatment LGG patients and six healthy controls (HC) underwent DWI MRI on a 3T MRI scanner. DWI processing included diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), white matter tract integrity (WMTI), neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), and fixel-based analysis (FBA). Validity was assessed by delineating surgical cavity, peri-surgical cavity, and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in LGG patients, and white matter (WM) in HC. Spearman correlation assessed the agreement between DWI parameters. Results: All obtained parameters differed significantly across tissue types. Remarkably, WMTI showed that intra-axonal diffusivity was high in the surgical cavity and low in NAWM and WM. Most DWI parameters correlated well with each other, except for WMTI-derived intra-axonal diffusivity. Conclusion: This study shows that all parameters relevant for tumour monitoring and DWI-derived parameters for axonal fibre-bundle integrity (except WMTI-IAS-D
a ) could be used interchangeably, enhancing inter-DWI model interpretability.- Published
- 2025
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