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Advanced Imaging Methods to Distinguish True Progression from Pseudoprogression in Patients with Brain Cancer

Trial Status: active

This phase I trial evaluates advanced imaging methods (dynamic contrast enhanced [DCE] magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and dual-energy computed tomography [DECT]) for their ability to distinguish between true progression (the disease has actually gotten worse) and pseudoprogression (the disease appears to have gotten worse, but it actually has not) in patients with brain cancer. Glioma patients undergoing treatment often show worrisome new abnormal tissue growths on their follow-up MRI studies. These new growths may mean that the tumor has come back after a period of improvement, but frequently turn out to be pseudoprogression. Pseudoprogression is a treatment related change that looks like true disease progression on imaging scans. Routine MRI lacks the ability to tell the difference between true disease progression and pseudoprogression, which makes it difficult to manage the treatment of these patients. Advanced imaging techniques like DCE MRI and DECT may be more effective at differentiating between true disease progression and pseudoprogression, which may help doctors provide better care to patients with brain cancer.