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Determinants of signal intensity in MRI of human astrocytomas

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  • Neuroradiology
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Abstract

MRI studies at 1.5 T of 38 patients with histologically confirmed astrocytomas were reviewed to search for a relationship of signal intensity with grade of malignancy, rediotherapy used for recurrent tumours and calcium deposits in surgical specimens. Signal intensity of tumours compared with normal brain was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 on T1- and T2-weighted images. Surgical specimens of each tumour were graded histopathologically on a scale of I to III and examined for calcium deposits. CT scans were searched for evidence of calcification. The majority of astrocytomas appeared hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Of 18 tumours with increased signal on T1-weighted images, grade II were prevalent, followed by calcified astrocytomas. Among 14 tumours with decreased signal on T2-weighted images the order was similar, but the ratio of high-grade to low-grade tumours did not differ in relation to signal intensity, while on T1-weighted images the ratio was higher in the group with increased signal intensity. A high grade of malignancy and microcalcifications were associated with an increased signal intensity of astrocytomas on T1-weighted sequences without contrast agent. The above factors did not influence significantly the signal intensity on T2-weighted images.

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Author notes

  1. B. Góraj

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Polish Mother's Health Center, 93-338 Łódź, 281/289, PL-Rzgowska, Poland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    B. Góraj & M. S. Tenner

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    M. Spiller & S. S. Kasoff

  3. Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    M. P. Valsamis

Authors
  1. B. Góraj
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  2. M. Spiller
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  3. M. P. Valsamis
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  4. S. S. Kasoff
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  5. M. S. Tenner
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Correspondence to: B. Góraj

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Góraj, B., Spiller, M., Valsamis, M.P. et al. Determinants of signal intensity in MRI of human astrocytomas. Eur. Radiol. 5, 74–82 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178085

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178085

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