Characterizing Intra- and Peritumoral Connectivity in Human Gliomas using Pseudo-Resting State Functional MRI Derived from DSC Perfusion MRI

Motivation: Clinical use of resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) to study brain tumor biology is not widespread, due in part by time and cost constraints. Goal(s): Finding an alternative to traditional rs-fMRI for studying brain tumor biology and functional connectivity. Approach: Deriving "pseudo" rs-fMRI from routine clinical DSC perfusion MRI, and using intra-tumoral connectivity (ITC) and dynamic time warping (DTW) distance to characterize tumor infiltration and heterogeneity. Results: "Pseudo" rs-fMRI derived from clinical DSC perfusion MRI may be useful for monitoring brain tumor patients. ITC and peritumoral connectivity patterns are unique to different glioma molecular subtypes, suggesting differences in the underlying biology. Impact: "Pseudo" rs-fMRI derived from clinical DSC perfusion MRI may be useful for monitoring brain tumor patients. Tumor infiltration and heterogeneity associated with different glioma molecular subtypes can be revealed by connectivity patterns within the tumor and with adjacent, normal-appearing tissue.