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Characterization of low‐grade gliomas using RGB color maps derived from ADC histograms
Author(s) -
Khayal Inas S.,
Nelson Sarah J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21810
Subject(s) - rgb color model , histogram , nuclear medicine , artificial intelligence , white matter , medicine , pathology , computer science , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , image (mathematics)
Purpose To use normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC) histograms from patients with grade II oligodendroglioma (OD) and astrocytoma (AC) to generate RGB color maps that emphasize the differences between normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM), oligo‐like, and astro‐like regions. Materials and Methods NAWM and nonenhancing lesion (NEL) ADC values from 19 ODs and 11 ACs were summed to generate oligo‐like (red), NAWM (green), and astro‐like (blue) nADC histograms. These nADC histograms were then used to map nADC values to an RGB matrix. Results Color maps of oligodendroglial tumor regions were generally visualized in pink, while color maps of astrocytic tumor regions showed various shades of blue. This technique was also applied to 23 patients with the more mixed subtype, oligoastrocytoma (OA), which showed a mixture of both blue and pink, which in many cases appeared to bleed into each other and were blotchy. Conclusion This technique allows for the visualization of biologically different regions within the whole tumor mass, which may aid in directing image‐guided biopsies. This can be used to ensure that the biopsy is directed to regions that can more accurately define the dominant tumor characteristics. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:209–213. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.