The Standardized Histogram Shift of T2 Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) Signal Intensities of Nephroblastoma Does Not Predict Histopathological Diagnostic Information

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess standardized histograms of signal intensities of T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (MRI) modality before and after preoperative chemotherapy for nephroblastoma (Wilms’ tumor). All analyzed patients are enrolled in the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) 2001/GPOH trial. 1 The question to be answered is whether the comparison of the histograms can add new knowledge by comparing them with the histology of the tumor after preoperative chemotherapy. Twenty-three unilateral nephroblastoma cases were analyzed. All patients were examined by MRI before and after preoperative chemotherapy treatment. T2 modalities of the MRIs were selected, and histogram changes were compared to histopathological data available after surgery. Of the 23 tumors, 22 decreased in volume following chemotherapy (median –57.99%; range 15.65 to –90.82%). The preliminary results suggest that standardized histograms of signal intensities of T2 MRI in nephroblastoma is not predicting histopathological diagnostic information and has no implications for the clinical assessment for further chemotherapy.