J Korean Radiol Soc.  1998 Sep;39(3):455-460. 10.3348/jkrs.1998.39.3.455.

Differential Riagnosis of the Brain Tumor and Brain Abscess: the Usefulness of Dynamic MR Imaging

• Jee SW
• Lee JH
• Lee HW
• Joo YG
• Kim H
• Kim JS
• Sohn CH
• Lee HJ
• Woo SG
• Suh SJ

• KMID: 2201266
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1998.39.3.455

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of dynamic MR imaging in the differential diagnosis of intracranial tumorand abscess.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Dynamic MR images of 36 patients with surgically or clinically provenintracranial enhancing lesions were retrospectively reviewed. These lesions comprised 15 metastases, 14 gliomas,and seven abscesses. Images were sequentially obtained every 30 seconds for 3-5 minutes using the spin-echotechnique(TR/TE : 200 msec/15 msec) after bolus injection of gadolinium dimeglumine(2-3cc/sec). The dynamics ofcontrast enhancement of the lesions was analyzed visually and by calculating the sequential contrast-enhancementratio(CER).
RESULTS
CER during the 30-second early dynamic phase was 93.16 in metastases, 67.78 in gliomas, and48.3 in abscesses(ANOVA, p<0.005). The contrast enhancement pattern of metastases showed rapidly increased signalintensity(SI) up to 30 seconds, followed by a relatively rapid decrease; less time was then required to reach theCER peak. In gliomas, SI increased gradually up to 180 seconds and then took a longer time to reach the CER peak.The SI of abscesses was similar to that of gliomas, with a more gradual increase for 30-60 seconds and a longertime for the CER peak to be reached.
CONCLUSION
The contrast enhancement pattern and CER parameters seen ondynamic MRI can help differentiate intracranial tumor and abscess.

Keyword

Magnetic resonance (MR), technique; Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast enhancement; Brain, abscess; Brain,neoplasms, MR

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Brain Abscess*
Brain Neoplasms*
Brain*
Diagnosis, Differential
Gadolinium
Glioma
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Neoplasm Metastasis
Retrospective Studies
Gadolinium