Preoperative evaluation of brain invasion by diffusion tensor tractography in gliomas

Objective To evaluate the brain invasion in gliomas by diffusion tensor tractography(DTT).Methods Diffusion tensor imaging was preoperatively performed in 35 patients who histologically confirmed gliomas.13 of the 35 tumors were low-grade gliomas and 22 were high-grade gliomas. Then the spatial relationship between the lesions and white matter fiber tracts around tumor was analyzed. displacement, continuity and injured conditions of white matter fiber were observed. Results White matter fiber tract in all lesions could be observed clearly. Three patterns of white matter fibers involvement were identified:displaced,infiltrated and destructed. White matter fiber tracts around low-grade gliomas were primarily displaced ,but were mainly infiltrated and destructed around high-grade gliomas. Conclusion DTT was useful for showing white matter fiber tracts,observing the shape changes stereographically,and evaluating the relationship with gliomas in vivo. Key words: Astrocytoma; Magnetic resonance imaging; Lymphocytes,tumor-infiltrating