Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Are Equivalent in Mensuration and Similarly Inaccurate in Grade and Type Predictability of Canine Intracranial Gliomas

Abstract

While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold-standard imaging modality for diagnosis of intracranial neoplasia, computed tomography (CT) remains commonly used for diagnosis and therapeutic planning in veterinary medicine. Despite the routine use of both imaging modalities, comparison of CT and MRI has not been described in the canine patient. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate CT and MRI studies of 15 dogs with histologically confirmed glioma. Multiple lesion measurements were obtained, including two-dimensional and volumetric dimensions in pre-contrast and post-contrast images. Similar measurement techniques were compared between CT and MRI. The glioma type (astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma) and grade (high or low) were predicted on CT and MRI independently. With the exception of the comparison between CT pre-contrast volume to T2-weighted MRI volume, no other statistical differences between CT and MRI measurements were identified. Overall accuracy for tumor grade (high or low) was 46.7 and 53.3% for CT and MRI, respectively. For predicted tumor type, accuracy of CT was 53.3% and MRI and MRI 60%. Based on the results of this study, both CT and MRI contrast measurement techniques are considered equivalent options for lesion mensuration. Given the low-to-moderate predictability of CT and MRI in glioma diagnosis, histopathology remains necessary for accurate diagnosis of canine brain tumors.

Definitive-intent uniform megavoltage fractioned radiotherapy protocol for presumed canine intracranial gliomas: retrospective analysis of survival and prognostic factors in 38 cases (2013-2019).

“…In our study, contrast enhancement (presence and characteristics) was not associated with survival, illustrating that other factors might be important to predict histological grade on MRI or, less probably, that histological grade might not be associated with survival in treated dogs. As a consequence, in a context where predictability of glial tumour type or grade is indeed considered moderate with CT, or even with high eld MRI [47,48,51], only the objectively measured Tumour / Brain Volume ratio may be useful to predict the prognosis without histological analysis.…”

Consensus recommendations on standardized magnetic resonance imaging protocols for multicenter canine brain tumor clinical trials

“…Furthermore, tumor volume estimation utilizing three‐dimensional sequences is more straightforward because of the isotropic voxels, lack of interslice gaps, and reduced partial volume effects. These observations are reiterated in published human and veterinary literature, specifically with respect to the significant variability in one‐ and two‐dimensional measurements due in large part to variation in slice location between serial scans …”

Definitive-intent uniform megavoltage fractioned radiotherapy protocol for presumed canine intracranial gliomas: retrospective analysis of survival and prognostic factors in 38 cases (2013-2019).

“…In our study, contrast enhancement (presence and characteristics) was not associated with survival, illustrating that other factors might be important to predict histological grade on MRI or, less probably, that histological grades might not be associated with survival in treated dogs. As a consequence, in a context where predictability of glial tumour type or grade is indeed considered moderate with CT, or even with high field MRI [47,48,51], only the statistical significance of the objective Tumor / Brain Volume ratio may be useful improve the prognosis without histological analysis.…”