Glioma is the most common type of primary tumors in the brain

histologically varying from low grade to high grade. Physiological regional heterogeneity also has been well documented in glioma. Hypercellularity

pleomorphism

vascular endothelial proliferation

mitotic activity

and necrosis are important histopathological characteristics

which determine tumor grading and its malignancy. Advanced MR imaging currently provides in vivo physiological and metabolic information including chemical composition

cerebral blood volume

perfusion

vascular permeability

and water mobility

which reflect those pathophysiological features of brain glioma to some extent. To date

MR spectroscopy

diffusion weighted imaging

perfusion weighted imaging and other new MRI techniques have many advantages on tumor grading

monitoring malignant transformation

predicting prognosis

and differentiating between tumor recurrence and malignant progression.