Clinical classification of cerebral gliomas based on magnetic resonance imaging

Objective To establish the clinical classification system of cerebral gliomas based on MR imaging and reveal its clinical significance. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed to the preoperative MR imaging data and follow-up results of patients with cerebral gliomas confirmed by pathology between January 2006 and January 2013 in our hospitals. Preoperative MR imaging characteristic parameters related to clinical prognoses of the patients were analyzed, the clinical classification system of cerebral gliomas was established and survival curve of patients of different classifications was analyzed. Results The features from preoperative MR imaging, such as distance of edema edge to mass, invaded number of gyri, and ependyma, dural or cortex involvement, were correlated with clinical outcomes of glioma patients: patients with distance of edema edge to mass≤1 cm had significantly higher survival rate than those with distance of edema edge to mass>1 cm (P 1 (P 1), subtypes 3 (n=26, median survival period=521 days, distance of edema edge to mass>1 cm and no ependyma involvement), and subtype 4 (n=41, median survival period=336 days, distance of edema edge to mass>1 cm and no ependyma involvement). Conclusion The clinical classification of gliomas based on MR imaging can effectively evaluate the prognoses of the patients, and further standardize the operation mode. Key words: Glioma; Classification according to MR imaging; Clinical prognosis