MRI scans may help spot a gene change in glioma
Original title: Predicting TERT mutation in glioma patients using MRI-derived radiomics; A systematic review and meta-analysis.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This looks across many earlier studies rather than running a new one.
This is a look back at past studies, not a test you can get today.
The short version
MRI scans may one day show a tumor gene change without surgery.
What was studied. Researchers gathered 17 studies of people with glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary, a kind of brain tumor. Each study used computer programs to read MRI scans and guess whether the tumor had a gene change called TERT.
What they found. When the gene change was present, the scan programs found it about 83% of the time. When it was not present, they correctly said so about 79% of the time. Results changed depending on how the tumor was outlined on the scan.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Right now, doctors need a piece of the tumor to check for this gene change. Scans might one day give an early clue instead. That could help doctors plan care sooner.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a treatment, and it is not a promise of a cure. It does not shrink a tumor or help you live longer. This work only looked back at past studies. These scan programs are not part of normal care, and they do not replace testing the tumor itself.
Source: PubMed, August 25, 2026 · Read the original
This plain-language summary was written by AI and published automatically after passing our automatic safety checks. How we write.