Differencial diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphomas based on multiparametric MRT mapping

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) represent a rare and aggressive form of extranodal NonHodgkin’s lymphoma, which is in most cases confined to the brain. Prompt diagnosis and starting treatment are vital. According to imaging, the tumor is characterized by low MR signal in T1, isointense in T2, pronounced and homogeneous uptake of contrast agent and restricted diffusion.OBJECTIVE: to study the effectiveness of MR-/CT perfusion techniques, underlying the multiparametric MRT mapping with the differential diagnosis of primary CNS lymphomas in comparison with poorly differentiated gliomas (grade 3–4 WHO 2021) and solitary metastatic brain injury.МATERIALS AND METODS: The study includes 80 patients with newly identified CNS tumors, later having check-up/neurosurgery treatment in Federal Centre of Neurosurgery (Tyumen, Russia) with histological verification within the period from 2018 to 2021. Depending on histological conclusion, 4 groups of patients were identified: 1–33 cases with PCNSL (out of which 10 cases with not typical manifestation based on the data of perfusion parameters and 23 cases of classical PCNSL), 2 — with anaplastic astrocytomas — 14 cases, 3–23 cases with glioblastomas and 4–10 cases with solitary metastatic lesion. The research was held on magnetic resonance tomography General Electric Discovery W750 3Т, multispiral x-ray computer tomography Canon Aquilion One before and after the contrast enhancement.RESULTS: During the study it was established that MR-/CT perfusion is a limited imaging method, possessing ambiguous sensitivity and specificity with PCNSL diagnosis, as they are characterized by not typical manifestation considered as exception. Nevertheless, the method has some undeniable advantages being indispensable in the algorithm of complex multiparametric diagnostic approach for this type of neoplasm.CONCLUSION: The capacity of neuroimaging PCNSL, even applying improved techniques of MR-/CT data collection, is rather limited and it doesn’t always allow to differentiate this tumor with other neoplasms accurately.