APT weighted imaging in diffuse gliomas

Abstract

Amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging is a non-invasive molecular MRI technique with a wide range of applications in neuroradiology and particularly neuro-oncology imaging. More than 15 years of pre-clinical experiments and clinical studies have demonstrated that APTw metrics are reproducible and reliable, leading to large-scale clinical acceptance. At present, major vendors of MRI scanners provide APTw sequences upon request. However, most neuroradiologists are unfamiliar with this advanced MRI contrast, its related metrics, and its established added value to patient care. In this manuscript, we present the APTw contrast and illustrate its clinical potential for glioma patients, before and after tumor therapy. We also show common artifacts of APTw imaging and discuss potential limitations and future refinements. Our goal is to suggest how this emerging technique can aid in diffuse gliomas work-up.