Background:

Advanced MRI-based neuroimaging techniques, such as perfusion and spectroscopy, have been increasingly incorporated into routine follow-up protocols in patients treated for high-grade glioma (HGG), to help differentiate tumor progression from treatment effect. However, these techniques' influence on clinical management remains poorly understood.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of MRI-based advanced neuroimaging on clinical decision-making in patients with HGG in the posttreatment setting.

Methods:

This prospective study, performed at a comprehensive cancer center from March 1, 2017, to October 31, 2020, included adult patients treated by chemoradiation for WHO grade 4 diffuse glioma who underwent MRIbased advanced neuroimaging (comprising multiple perfusion imaging sequences and spectroscopy) to further evaluate findings on conventional MRI equivocal for tumor progression versus treatment effect. The ordering neuro-oncologists completed surveys before and after each advanced neuroimaging session. The percent of care episodes with a change between the intended and actual management plan on the surveys conducted before and after advanced neuroimaging, respectively, was computed and compared with a previously published percent using the Wald test for independent samples proportions.

Results:

The study included 63 patients (mean age, 55±13 years; 36 women, 27 men) who underwent 70 advanced neuroimaging sessions. Ordering neuro-oncologists' intended and actual management plans on the surveys completed before and after advanced neuroimaging, respectively, differed in 44% (31/70, [95% CI 33-56%]) of episodes, which differed from the previously published frequency of 8.5% (5/59) (p<.001). These management plan changes included selection of a different plan for 6/8 episodes with an intended plan to enroll patients in a clinical trial, 12/19 episodes with an intended plan to change chemotherapeutic agents, 4/8 episodes with an intended plan of surgical intervention, and 1/2 episodes with an intended plan of re-irradiation. The ordering neuro-oncologists found advanced neuroimaging to be helpful in 93% (95% CI 87%-99%) (65/70) of episodes.

Conclusion:

Neuro-oncologists' management plans changed in a substantial fraction of adult patients with HGG who underwent advanced neuroimaging to further evaluate conventional MRI findings equivocal for tumor progression versus treatment effect. Clinical Impact The findings support incorporation of advanced neuroimaging into HGG posttreatment monitoring protocols.