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Diffusion profiling of tumor volumes using a histogram approach can predict proliferation and further microarchitectural features in medulloblastoma

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Abstract

Background

Medulloblastomas are the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. Treatment and prognosis strongly depend on histology and transcriptomic profiling. However, the proliferative potential also has prognostical value. Our study aimed to investigate correlations between histogram profiling of diffusion-weighted images and further microarchitectural features.

Material and methods

Seven patients (age median 14.6 years, minimum 2 years, maximum 20 years; 5 male, 2 female) were included in this retrospective study. Using a Matlab-based analysis tool, histogram analysis of whole apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) volumes was performed.

Results

ADC entropy revealed a strong inverse correlation with the expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 (r = − 0.962, p = 0.009) and with total nuclear area (r = − 0.888, p = 0.044). Furthermore, ADC percentiles, most of all ADCp90, showed significant correlations with Ki67 expression (r = 0.902, p = 0.036).

Discussion and conclusion

Diffusion histogram profiling of medulloblastomas provides valuable in vivo information which potentially can be used for risk stratification and prognostication. First of all, entropy revealed to be the most promising imaging biomarker. However, further studies are warranted.

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Author notes

  1. Stefan Schob, Anne Beeskow, Franz-Wolfgang Hirsch and Alexey Surov contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Neuroradiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Stefan Schob

  2. Department for Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Anne Beeskow & Franz-Wolfgang Hirsch

  3. Department for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Julia Dieckow

  4. Clinic for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Hans-Jonas Meyer & Alexey Surov

  5. Clinic and Policlinic for Neurosurgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Matthias Krause

  6. Department for Neuropathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Clara Frydrychowicz

Authors
  1. Stefan Schob
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  2. Anne Beeskow
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  4. Hans-Jonas Meyer
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Correspondence to Stefan Schob.

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Schob, S., Beeskow, A., Dieckow, J. et al. Diffusion profiling of tumor volumes using a histogram approach can predict proliferation and further microarchitectural features in medulloblastoma. Childs Nerv Syst 34, 1651–1656 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3846-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3846-2

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