Differentiation between calcification and hemorrhage in brain tumors using susceptibility-weighted imaging: a pilot study

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 Apr;202(4):847-50. doi: 10.2214/AJR.13.10745.

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to develop a robust method to differentiate calcification from hemorrhage in gliomas. Histopathologic examination was performed to validate hemorrhage and calcification.

Conclusion: Phase images from eleven patients with glioma yielded statistically significant phase-shift values for calcification and hemorrhage compared with normal brain, whereas CT showed substantial overlap of Hounsfield units. Phase image analysis correctly differentiated between intratumoral calcification and hemorrhage in 86% of cases.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / pathology*
  • Female
  • Glioma / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed