4D-CT Of Brain Tumors: Feasibility In Hemodynamic Depiction

Purpose: 4D-CT can provide both static and dynamic 3D images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical usefulness of 4D-CT for brain tumors. Methods: The subjects included 24 consecutive patients with brain tumors comprising glioblastomas (n=5), fibrillary astrocytoma (n=1), oligodendroglioma (n=1), anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (n=3), anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (n=1), medulloblastoma (n=1), meningiomas (n=5), anaplastic meningioma (n=1), craniopharyngioma (n=1), hemangioblastoma (n=1), and malignant lymphomas (n=4). Continuous 1.0-sec scanning was performed using a 64-row MD-CT. Serial volume rendered (VR) images were displayed in cine mode. 4D-CT was evaluated in depiction of feeding arteries, tumor staining, and early appearance of draining veins, and compared with IADSA in 14 patients. Pertinent facts: 4D-CT was able to depict tumor staining in all of 13 patients who showed tumor staining by IADSA. Feeding arteries were visualized in 9 patients by IADSA and in 7 patients by 4DCT. Early appearance of draining veins was visualized in 8 patients by IADSA, but in 7 patients by 4D-CT. Early appearance of draining veins was seen in patients with pathologically malignant tumors except for a patient with hemangioblastoma. In 11 patients who did not undergo IADSA, 4D-CT was able to depict tumor staining in 10 patients, feeding arteries in 3 patients, and early appearance of a draining vein in 3 patients. Conclusions: 4D-CT provides hemodynamic information about tumors, such as presence of feeding arteries, tumor staining, and early appearance of draining veins. 4D-CT is a feasible alternative to IADSA in hemodynamic depiction of brain tumors.