A new way to read MRI scans may tell real tumor growth from a look-alike
Original title: A Comparison of Radio-Pathomic, Diffusion, and Perfusion Imaging Features for Identifying Pseudoprogression in Glioblastoma.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This was a look back at scans from real patients at one hospital, not a tool doctors can use yet.
The short version
Some brain scans look like the tumor is growing when it is not, and this study tested a map that may tell the difference.
What was studied. Researchers looked back at 171 MRI sessions from 130 adults with glioblastoma: The fastest-growing type of glioma (grade 4). Treatment usually starts soon after diagnosis: surgery first, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary who had already had a biopsy or surgery. They compared a computer-made map of cell density, built from regular MRI pictures, against other advanced scan measures.
What they found. Of the 171 scan sessions, 139 showed real tumor growth and 32 showed pseudoprogression, the look-alike. The cell density map did a better job than the other scan measures at telling those two apart. It used the regular scan pictures the patients already had.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: If this holds up, your care team may one day get a clearer answer from a normal MRI about whether your tumor is really growing. That could mean less waiting and guessing after radiation and chemotherapy. It would not need extra dye or extra time in the scanner.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean the tool is ready for your next scan. It was a look back at old scans from one place, not a trial of a new treatment. It does not treat or shrink a tumor, and it is not a cure. More work at more hospitals is needed before doctors could use it in everyday care.
Source: PubMed, August 7, 2026 · Read the original
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