Comparative evaluation of intracranial oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma of similar grades using conventional and T1-weighted DCE-MRI

Purpose This retrospective study was performed on a 3T MRI to determine the unique conventional MR imaging and T1-weighted DCE-MRI features of oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma and investigate the utility of machine learning algorithms in their differentiation. Methods Histologically confirmed, 81 treatment-naïve patients were classified into two groups as per WHO 2016 classification: oligodendroglioma ( n = 16; grade II, n = 25; grade III) and astrocytoma ( n = 10; grade II, n = 30; grade III). The differences in tumor morphology characteristics were evaluated using Z-test. T1-weighted DCE-MRI data were analyzed using an in-house built MATLAB program. The mean 90th percentile of relative cerebral blood flow, relative cerebral blood volume corrected, volume transfer rate from plasma to extracellular extravascular space, and extravascular extracellular space volume values were evaluated using independent Student’s t test. Support vector machine (SVM) classifier was constructed to differentiate two groups across grade II, grade III, and grade II+III based on statistically significant features. Results Z-test signified only calcification among conventional MR features to categorize oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma across grade III and grade II+III tumors. No statistical significance was found in the perfusion parameters between two groups and its subtypes. SVM trained on calcification also provided moderate accuracy to differentiate oligodendroglioma from astrocytoma. Conclusion We conclude that conventional MR features except calcification and the quantitative T1-weighted DCE-MRI parameters fail to discriminate between oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma. The SVM could not further aid in their differentiation. The study also suggests that the presence of more than 50% T2-FLAIR mismatch may be considered as a more conclusive sign for differentiation of IDH mutant astrocytoma.