Current concepts in glioblastoma imaging

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM, WHO grade Ⅳ) is the most common and the most malignant primary brain tumor occurring during adulthood, with an annual incidence of 5 cases per 100 000. Treatment involves surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy and concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. Despite multimodality treatment, the median survival time is 15 months. Herewith we discuss the value of neuroimaging in differentiating GBM from other types of brain tumors, in guiding tumor biopsy, in making non⁃invasive assessment of tumor's aggressiveness, in estimating overall prognosis, in differentiating treatment ⁃induced brain necrosis from tumor recurrence and in assessing response to treatment. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.06.003

Keywords

• Glioblastoma
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Tomography, emission ⁃ computed, single ⁃ photon
• Tomography, emission ⁃ computed
• Chemotherapy, adjuvant
• Radiotherapy