Associations Between ADC Texture Analysis and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Brain Metastasis - A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background/aim: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are an important prognostic factor in brain metastasis (BM). This study elucidated associations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) texture analysis and TIL in BM.

Patients and methods: Eleven patients with BM were retrospectively included into the study. TIL levels were analyzed with Leucocyte-common antigen staining. Clinical routine magnetic resonance imaging was used to calculate the texture features.

Results: ADC GrayLevelNonUniformity correlated with TILs of the stromal compartment (r=0.67, p=0.02). ADC HighGrayLevelRunEmphasis and ADC Coarseness showed associations with TILs of the tumoral compartment (r=-0.60, p=0.04 and r=0.68, p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusion: ADC texture features correlated with TIL levels in BM. ADC texture features could aid in reflecting the complex tumor-micromilieu in a non-invasive manner.

Keywords: Brain metastasis; apparent diffusion coefficient; diffusion-weighted imaging; tumor infiltrating lymphocyte.