Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system and represent about one-third of all intracranial tumors in adultswith surgical excision followed by radio-chemotherapy being the main line of treatment.
Patients with managed brain tumor often develop new areas ofcontrast enhancement on routine follow-up imagingwhich can be the result of treatment necrosis, tumor recurrence, or a combination of the 2 outcomes.
Biopsy is the most reliable method for differentiating treatment necrosis from tumor recurrence.
Among the non-invasive methods that are available for diagnosing intracranial tumors, are single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRS), perfusion and diffusion-weighted MRI including Diffusion Tensor Imaging.
Aim of the Work:
To evaluate the role of diffusion tensor imaging (Fractional Anisotropy) in the differentiation between recurrent brain tumors and radiation necrosis.
Patients and Methods:
Patients:
This prospective study was carried on 20 patientsreferred to the MRI unit of Radio-diagnosis department Alexandria main university hospital for imaging of the brain, presenting with ahistory of operated brain tumors followed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy and who showed suspicious enhancing lesion at their conventional MRI.