Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System (BT-RADS) for the Surveillance of Adult-Type Diffuse Gliomas after Surgery

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most frequent form of adult-type diffuse gliomas, and it carries a very poor prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an indispensable tool for diagnosing and monitoring brain tumors, potentially influencing choices like repeat surgery, biopsy, or alternative management strategies. However, interpreting post-surgical MRI for gliomas can be particularly demanding, especially in differentiating between tumor progression and treatment effects. Recently, a novel score specifically designed for classifying and reporting post-treatment brain tumors on MRI was proposed by a team of neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, and neuro-oncologists: the Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System (BT-RADS). This review examines the current body of evidence regarding the use of BT-RADS in monitoring adult-type diffuse gliomas following surgery. This classification has demonstrated a number of benefits in terms of prognostic value, treatment decisions, reliability, and the quality of radiology reports. On the other hand, despite the promising diagnostic value in identifying recurrent glioblastoma, there is still some uncertainty in defining the presence or absence of tumor recurrence in the intermediate category 3. In such a category, incorporating advanced techniques such as perfusion-weighted imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging may improve the stratification of patients, avoiding repeat surgery on false positive findings.

Keywords

• brain neoplasms
• glioblastoma
• reporting and data system
• surveillance
• magnetic resonance imaging
• MRI