Investigation of Multi-parametric MRI Features in Subtypes of Primary Intracranial Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Purpose This study aims to investigate the clinical utility of multiparametric MRI features in distinguishing between germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and non-germinal center B-cell-like (non-GCB) subtypes of primary intracranial diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with the objective of establishing a non-invasive diagnostic protocol that could potentially reduce dependence on invasive histopathological confirmation. Methods This study retrospectively included 160 patients with primary intracranial DLBCL (53 GCB subtype and 107 non-GCB subtype) confirmed by pathology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, from March 2013 to December 2024. All patients underwent multiparametric MRI scans, including T1WI, T2-FLAIR, DWI, and T1-CE. Three senior radiologists collected and assessed the clinical and imaging features of the patients, including: gender, age, number of lesions, location, ADC ratio, maximum diameter, minimum diameter, presence of cystic or necrotic changes, regularity of margins, “fist sign”, “horn sign”, “umbilication sign”, “butterfly sign”, meningeal involvement, ependymal involvement, degree of peritumoral edema, and mass effect. Results Significant differences were observed in multiple multi-parametric MRI features between the GCB and non-GCB types of DLBCL. The non-GCB type was more likely to present as a solitary lesion ( P  = 0.006), had a higher incidence of cystic or necrotic changes ( P  = 0.013), irregular margins ( P  = 0.016), ependymal involvement ( P  = 0.046), and exhibited the “fist sign” ( P  = 0.034) and more severe peritumoral edema ( P  = 0.047). Conclusions Significant differences in multi-parametric MRI features exist between the GCB and non-GCB types of primary intracranial DLBCL, providing a new approach for non-invasive subtyping of DLBCL in clinical practice.