High b-value diffusion-weighted imaging in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in HIV patients

• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-017-4761-8
• Publication Date: 2017-02-06T11:27:42Z
• Authors: Claudia Godi; Enrico De Vita; Enrico Tombetti; Indran Davagnanam; Lewis Haddow; Hans Rolf Jäger
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Progressive Multifocal/diagnostic imaging; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Diffusion-weighted MRI; 610; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/diagnostic imaging; Diffusion MRI; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Leukoencephalopathy; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; Humans; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Diffusion MRI; Diffusion-weighted MRI; Magnetic Resonance; Aged; Retrospective Studies; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Human immunodeficiency virus; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal; Brain; Middle Aged; Brain/diagnostic imaging; Prognosis; 3. Good health; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging; Disease Progression; Female

An ill-defined hyperintense edge and hypointense core on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is typical of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). We aimed to investigate whether a b-value of 3,000 s/mm2 (b3000) can improve visualisation of PML, or provide different structural information compared to 1,000 s/mm2 (b1000).We retrospectively identified HIV-positive patients with confirmed PML studied under a clinical protocol including both b1000 and b3000 DWI. The rim and core of each PML lesion and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) were outlined on trace-weighted DWI. Signal intensities, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and volumes were measured and compared between b1000 and b3000.Nine lesions from seven patients were analysed. The rim and core were better visualised on b3000, with higher signal of the rim and lower signal of the core compared to NAWM. The hyperintense rim had non-restricted average ADCs, but included foci of low ADC on both b3000 and b1000. Despite similar total lesion volumes, b3000 displayed significantly larger core and smaller rim volumes than b1000.b3000 improves visualisation of this important PML hallmark. Moreover, b3000 partly reclassifies tissue from rim into core, and might provide potentially more accurate biomarkers of PML activity and prognosis.• B3000 improves contrast resolution between lesion rim, core and normal-appearing white matter. • B3000 improves identification of the typical rim-and-core pattern of PML lesions. • B3000 and b1000 similarly identify lesions, but b3000 results in smaller rims and larger cores. • B3000 excludes some high diffusion components from rim, reclassifying them into core. • B3000 DWI may provide more precise PML biomarkers of disease activity and tissue damage.