Tumour pseudoresponse

Last revised by Arlene Campos on 5 Nov 2024

Tumour pseudoresponse, also known just as pseudoresponse, refers to the phenomenon of tumours appearing to respond to a specific treatment on imaging criteria when the lesion actually remains stable or has even progressed.

The term is largely used for brain tumours during imaging follow-up, especially for high-grade gliomas (e.g. glioblastoma) in which a rapid decrease in contrast enhancement and oedema can be observed in a short period of time after administration of antiangiogenic agents (e.g, bevacizumab and cediranib), often without any significant change in actual tumour size (as visualised on non-contrast sequences) or diffusion/perfusion studies 1-3

Bevacizumab (trade name Avastin), for example, is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), aimed at inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels within the tumour (neoangiogenesis). VEGF is produced by the tumours, and not only promotes neoangiogenesis but also reduces the effectiveness of gap junctions and creates fenestrations in the endothelium of existing brain capillaries, leading to oedema and enhancement 4. The amount of VEGF produced has been shown to correlate with tumour grade. 

The changes seen in pseudoresponse (rapid reduction in enhancement and vasogenic oedema) are largely mediated by changes in blood-brain barrier permeability rather than antiangiogenic effects.

MRI is the modality of choice for the routine follow-up of gliomas. MR spectroscopy, MR perfusion (particularly cerebral blood volume) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are particularly important in this setting to assess for the presence of residual viable, but now non-enhancing, tumour, as relying on enhancement and T2 signal change can be misleading due to the aforementioned changes in blood-brain barrier permeability 4

Essential to correct interpretation is the availability of multiple previous imaging studies and information relating to the type and timing of therapy. 

Typical features of pseudoresponse when compared to pre-treatment scans: 

  • reduction in vasogenic oedema

  • reduction in enhancement

  • persistent low ADC values

  • persistent tumour trace

  • persistent elevation of rCBV

Despite the fact that these advanced MRI sequences have helped in differentiating pseudoresponse from a true response, imaging follow-up is still required 1

In a small percentage of patients treated with bevacizumab, areas of the tumour will undergo coagulative necrosis and appear bright on DWI and profoundly dark on ADC with or without surrounding enhancement. The significance of this finding, that can be mistaken for infarction or hypercellular tumour, depends on whether this area of diffusion restriction remains stable or increases in size. In the former it is a relatively good prognostic sign, suggesting an improvement in overall survival. In contrast, when the size of these regions increases on follow-up imaging, it suggests a worse prognosis 5

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