Low-Grade Glioma diagnosis
Diagnosis of Low-Grade Gliomas (LGGs) is made through a combination of imaging, histopathology, and molecular diagnostic methods. On computed tomography, low-grade gliomas appear as diffuse areas of low attenuation. On conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is currently the imaging modality of choice, LGGs are often homogeneous with low signal intensity on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintensity on T2-weighted and Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) sequences.
Despite characteristic radiographic findings, tumor grade cannot be determined by imaging alone. Newer imaging techniques, such as MR spectroscopy (MRS) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, may improve the diagnostic potential; however, at this time, histopathologic examination of tissue remains the gold standard for diagnosis and grading of LGG 1).