Radiological imaging features of glioblastoma with oligodendroglioma component: a comparison with conventional glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma with oligodendroglioma component (GBMO) is a subtype of conventional glioblastoma (cGBM), which is categorized as WHO grade IV. GBMO can be histopathologically distinguished from cGBM and the prognosis of GBMO is better than that of cGBM. However, no systematic review of GBMO imaging findings has been published to date. PURPOSE: To clarify the radiological imaging features of GBMO compared with those of cGBM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants were 15 patients with GBMO and 32 patients with cGBM as a control group, all of whom were histopathologically diagnosed. A radiologist retrospectively reviewed the imaging findings of both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for density, signal intensity, contrast medium enhancement (CE), cortical swelling, and cortical swelling without CE. We statistically analyzed the imaging findings by Chi-squared test. RESULTS: Cortical swelling without CE in GBMO was significantly greater than that in cGBM (P = 0.004). Non-CE and heterogeneous solid enhancement were observed significantly more often in GBMO (P = 0.004). No other findings were significant. CONCLUSION: There was significant difference in the findings of the CE, which exhibited solid heterogeneous enhancement in GBMO. Cortical swelling without CE can be considered significantly characteristic of GBMO.