The Significance of Perfusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluating the Pathological Biological Activity of Cerebral Alveolar Echinococcosis

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the value of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MR-PWI) in assessing cerebral alveolar echinococcosis (CAE) biological activity. Methods Totally, 15 cases of CAE patients who underwent surgery were enrolled. The MR-PWI perfusion parameters were measured and compared. Results The MR-PWI perfusion parameters cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time were different among different areas. Their values were in the descending order of lesion marginal area > contralateral normal brain area > lesion center area. However, time-to-peak value was in the ascending order of lesion marginal area < contralateral normal brain area < lesion center area. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CBF and CBV at the edge of the lesion were significantly positively correlated with microvessel density. Moreover, CBF and CBV at the edge of the lesion were also significantly positively correlated with maximum standardized uptake value. Conclusions Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be used to dynamically reflect the neovascularization of CAE lesions and may have a good application prospect in evaluating the biological activity of CAE.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the value of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in assessing the biological activity of cerebral alveolar echinococcosis. The results showed that perfusion parameters were different among different areas and were significantly correlated with microvessel density and maximum standardized uptake value. Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be used to dynamically reflect the neovascularization of CAE lesions.