Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Biomarker Alterations in Brain Metastases and Comparable Tumors: A Systematic Review of DTI and Tractography Findings
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Brain metastases (BMs) are the most frequent tumors of the central nervous system. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging technique that provides insights into brain microstructural alterations and tensor metrics and generates tractography to visualize white matter fiber tracts based on diffusion directionality. This systematic review assessed evidence from DTI biomarker alterations in BMs and comparable tumors such as glioblastoma.
METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched, and published between January 2000 and August 2023. The key inclusion criteria were studies reporting DTI metrics in BMs and comparisons with other tumors. Data on study characteristics, tumor types, sample details, and main DTI findings were extracted.
RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies with 1592 BM patients and 1578 comparable brain tumors were included. Peritumoral fractional anisotropy (FA) consistently differentiates BMs from primary brain tumors, whereas intratumoral FA shows limited discriminatory power. Mean diffusivity increased in BMs versus comparators. Intratumoral metrics were less consistent but revealed differences in BM origin. Axial and radial diffusivity have provided insights into the effects of radiation, tumor origin, and infiltration. Axial diffusivity/radial diffusivity differentiated tumor infiltration from vasogenic edema. Tractography revealed anatomical relationships between white matter tracts and BMs. In addition,…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,592 participants or records.
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