DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i02.005

Pages: 386-390

Diffusion tensor imaging is an evolving technique with a wide range of applications especially in the diagnosis and characterization of involvement of white matter tracts by brain tumors. DTI has shown promising results for detecting the microscopic differences between the tumors. The present study aimed to study the spatial relationship between major white matter tracts and tumors and to study the role of DTI in differentiating High-grade gliomas from Metastasis, Low-grade gliomas and Meningiomas. Methods: This prospective study of patients with brain neoplasms was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Prathima Institute of medical sciences, Karimnagar. According to inclusion criteria, n=30 patients referred to Neurosurgery. Data for the study were collected from patients with clinically suspected cerebral neoplasms or from patients, in whom previous images depicted cerebral neoplasms, undergoing DTI according to the set protocols after obtaining informed consent. All these patients had undergone detailed clinical evaluation by the referring neurosurgery unit. Results: Out of n=30 cases, there were n=6 low-grade gliomas (WHO grade I and II), 13 high-grade gliomas (WHO grade III and IV), n=6 metastasis and 5 meningiomas (WHO grade I). In this study, the maximum percentages of tumors were high-grade gliomas (43.3%), followed by low-grade gliomas (20%), metastasis (20%) and meningiomas (16.7%). out of n=11 benign group tumors, edematous white matter tracts were seen in 1 case, displacement was seen in n=10 cases, infiltration was seen in n=2 cases and disruption was seen in n=1 case. Out of n=13 malignant group tumors, edema was observed in n=6 cases, displacement was seen in n=10 cases, infiltration was observed in n=10 cases and disruption was seen in n=9 cases. Conclusion: DTI is a useful technique to demonstrate complex ultrastructural organization of the white matter tracts of the brain. The three-dimensional properties of water are useful in demonstrati