An innovative mathematical analysis of routine MRI scans in patients with glioblastoma using DoctorEye

Abstract

Improving the initial diagnosis and the assessment of response to treatment in malignant gliomas, while avoiding invasive methods as much as justifiable, is one major aspect actual research is focusing on. Imaging studies are used to calculate tumor volume and define vital, necrotic and cystic areas within a tumor. Though the visual interpretation of magnetic resonance (MR) images is based on qualitative observation of variation in signal intensity, a correlation of signal intensities with histological features of a tumor is not possible. Better methods are needed for a reliable interpretation of follow-up studies in single patients. Histograms of signal intensities might serve as a method adding quantitative data to the description of a tumor. Using DoctorEye software, tumors can be easily rendered and histograms of the signal intensities within a tumor as well as mean and median signal intensities are possible to calculate. Our results in glioblastoma suggest that these histograms are an innovative method of gaining new tumor-specific information without performing additional investigations in a patient. It can be an additional diagnostic tool in differentiating various intracranial lesions from each other, as well as in assessing response to treatment or progression of malignant glioma.