Glioma Migration Through the Corpus Callosum and the Brainstem Detected by Diffusion and Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Initial Findings

Abstract

Purpose: Glioma cell infiltration, in which the glioma tumor cells spread long distances from the primary location using white matter (WM) or blood vessels, is known as a significant challenge for surgery or localized chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Following the World Health Organization (WHO), the glioma grading system ranges from stages I to IV, in which lower-grade gliomas represent benign tumors, and higher grade gliomas are considered the most malignant. Materials and Methods: We gathered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data for seven patients with right precentral gyrus-located tumors and six age-and sex-matched healthy subjects for analysis. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) was utilized to evaluate whole-brain WM implication due to probable tumor infiltration. Also, along-tract statistics were used in order to trace the implicated WM tracts. Finally, for cortical evaluation of probable tumor cell migration, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was utilized, which allowed us to do whole-brain cortical estimation. Results: The TBSS results revealed significantly higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and lower mean diffusivity (MD) in the left side superior corona radiata. Also, higher FA was observed in the right corticostriatal tract. Along-tract statistics were also compiled on the corpus callosum (CC), which is anatomically known as a hub between hemispheres. The body of the CC, which connected with the superior corona radiata anatomically, showed significantly higher FA values relative to healthy subjects, which are in line with the TBSS results. Consistent with these results, whole-brain gray matter changes were analyzed via VBM, which showed significant hypertrophy of both sides of the brainstem. Conclusion: In future investigations, focusing on the genetic basis of the glioma patients in line with imaging studies on a larger sample size, which is known as genetics imaging, would be a suitable approach for tracing this process.

Case Report: Chemotherapy Indication in a Case of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Presenting Optic Pathway Glioma: A One-Year Clinical Case Study Using Differential Tractography Approach

“…Interestingly, the connectivity between the body and genu of the corpus callosum increased by 10-30% over 1 year (see Supplementary Figure 6). This extends our previous study on glioma invasion, which revealed that the corpus callosum body played a role in this procedure (Sharifi et al, 2019).…”

Common genetic variation influencing human white matter microstructure

“…31 main challenges in treating glioma (48). The corpus callosum serves as a hub between hemispheres, and glial cells may migrate along the corpus callosum during glioma cell infiltration (49). Additionally, three regions were colocalized with stroke, including 10q24.33, 9p21.3, and 2q33.2 (50) (Fig.…”

The Subventricular Zone, a Hideout for Adult and Pediatric High-Grade Glioma Stem Cells

“…Another interesting study by Kakita et al revealed the migration of labeled glial progenitors from the neonatal SVZ through the corpus callosum to the contralateral hemispheres, which correlates with the pattern of migration described by Kroonen et al (45,69). More recently, diffusion and magnetic resonance performed on seven glioma and six control patients showed that the human corpus callosum also act as a GBM cell migration track (70). In children, Caretti et al analyzed a series of autopsies from 16 patients with DMG and observed that tumoral cells spread to the SVZ in 63% of the cases (19).…”

“…( 45 , 69 ). More recently, diffusion and magnetic resonance performed on seven glioma and six control patients showed that the human corpus callosum also act as a GBM cell migration track ( 70 ). In children, Caretti et al.…”