Value of Minimum Apparent Diffusion Coefficient on Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Biomarker for Predicting Progression of Disease Following Surgery and Radiotherapy in Glial Tumors from a Tertiary Care Center in Northern India

PURPOSE: Studies have shown that cellularity of glial tumors are inversely correlated to minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The purpose of this prospective exploratory study was to evaluate whether temporal change in “minimum ADC” values during follow-up predict progressive disease in glial tumors post radiotherapy and surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients of glial tumors, subjected to surgery followed by Radiotherapy (RT), were included in the study. Serial conventional magnetic resonance imaging with DWI at the following time points – presurgery, pre-RT, post-RT imaging at 3, 7, and 15 months were done. For “minimum ADC” values, multiple regions of interest (ROI) were identified on ADC maps derived from DWI. A mean of 5 minimum ADC values was chosen as “minimum ADC” value. The correlation was drawn between histology and minimum ADC values and time trends were studied. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included in this study. Histologies were low-grade glioma (LGG) – 5, anaplastic oligodendroglioma (ODG) -5, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) – 4. Minimum ADC values were significantly higher in LGG and GBM than ODG. Presurgery, the values were 0.812, 0.633, and 0.787 × 10(−3) mm(2)/s for LGG, ODG, and GBM, respectively. DWI done at the time of RT planning showed values of 0.786, 0.636, 0.869 × 10(−3) mm(2)/s, respectively. During follow-up, the increasing trend of minimum ADC was observed in LGG (P = 0.02). All these patients were clinically and radiologically stable. Anaplastic ODGs, however, showed an initial increase followed by the fall of minimum ADC in all the 5 cases (P = 0.00). Four of the five cases developed progressive disease subsequently. In all the 4 GBM cases, a consistent fall of minimum ADC values was observed (P = 0.00), and they all progressed in spite of RT. CONCLUSIONS: The DWI-derived minimum ADC values are an important yet simple quantitative tool to assess the treatment response and disease progression before they are evident on conventional imaging during the follow-up of glial tumors.