Finding the Surrogate Biomarkers of Glioma Infiltration in the Normal Appearing White Matter adjacent to Tumor using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI)

This work addresses the study in glioma, where Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) provides incoherent information while Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) may improve the microstructural characterization. Glioma recurrences are mostly located at the margin of the resection cavity as peritumoral area. NODDI, using a compartment-based biophysical model, would potentially provide specific surrogate biomarkers for the microscopic foci of glioma infiltration better than DTI. NODDI reveals that glioma cells can extend beyond the bulk tumor and peritumoral edema into normal appearing white matter (NAWM) adjacent to tumor or peritumoral edema by using Region of Interest (ROI)-based statistics.