Study of MR Imaging and MR Spectroscopy in the Diagnosis of Gliomatosis Cerebri

摘要

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the MRI and MRS features of gliomatosis cerebri for investigating the clinical value of MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of gliomatosis cerebri. Methods: Seven patients with gliomatosis cerebri proved clinically and histopathologically were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent MRI and three of them underwent MRS. Results: The tumors involved at least 2 cerebral lobes in all patients, with low signal intensity on T_1WI and high intensity on T_2WI. The area invaded by tumor showed cortex swelling and no obvious mass effect. The tumors presented small nodules or plaque lesions on enhance-MRI in 3 cases, and no contrast enhancement was shown in the rest 4 cases. All patients with MRS showed elevated Cho, Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA levels as well as varying degrees of decreased NAA. Conclusion: MRI is the method of first choice to detect gliomatosis cerebri so far, MR spectroscopy might be helpful in its differential diagnosis.