Diagnostic value of arterial spin labeling in pediatric brain tumors

WANG Yu-fang; ZHANG Xiao-rui; SHEN Jing; YANG Su-jun; HOU Bo

Abstract：Objective To explore the diagnostic value of 3‐Dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling in pediat‐ric brain tumors .Methods Twenty‐five pediatric patients (16 boys and 9 girls) with Brain Tumors ,who were been histo‐logically proven ,were examined at a clinic with 3 .0T MR imaging .The 3D pseudocontinuous spin‐echo arterial spin‐labe‐ling technique was acquired at 3T MR imaging .Maximal relative tumor blood flow was obtained by use of the ROI method and was compared with tumor histologic features and grade .Results Tumors consisted of astrocytic tumor (10) ,embryo‐nal tumor (4) ,ependymal tumor (3) ,choroid plexus tumor (3) ,craniopharyngioma (2) ,lymphoma(2) ,glioblastoma (1) .The maximal relative tumor blood flow of high‐grade tumors (grades III and IV) was significantly higher than that of low‐grade tumors (grades I and II) ( P<0 .01) ,except lymphoma .In this patients ,relative tumor blood flow did not dis‐tinguish individual histology ;however ,among posterior fossa tumors ,relative tumor blood flow was significantly higher for medulloblastoma compared with pilocytic astrocytoma ( P <0 .017) .Conclusion 3‐Dimensional pseudocontinuous ar‐terial spin is a suitable method for assessment of pediatric brain tumors and allows distinction between high‐and low‐grade tumors .