Diffusion Weighted Imaging of Brain Gliomas in the Differential Diagnosis Value

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient measurement (ADC) in glioma. Methods: Thirty two low-grade glioma patients and 31 high-grade glioma patients who were confirmed by pathology in Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China from February 2016 to January 2019 were selected. The other 30 patients with brain metastases were selected as a control group. DWI imaging data of the three groups were collected, and ADC, relative ADC (rADC) values in tumor parenchyma, peritumor edema area, and contralateral normal white matter area were measured, and the levels of n-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) of tumor metabolites were analyzed. Results: rADC values in the peri-tumor edema areas of the high-grade glioma group were significantly lower than those in the low-grade group and the metastatic group （P=0.011）, and the low-grade group was significantly lower than that in the metastatic group (P < 0.05). NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr in parenchymal and peritumor edema areas of patients in the advanced group were significantly lower than those in the metastatic group (P < 0.05), and Cho /Cr was significantly higher than those in the metastatic group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: the rADC value, NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in parenchymal and peritumor edema areas of the tumor can help to distinguish high-grade glioma, low-grade glioma and brain metastases.