Inverse Perfusion Requirements of Supra- and Infratentorial Brain Metastases Formation

Background and Aims: Vascular border zones and the gray-white matter junction are preferred sites for the development of brain metastases (BM), whereas microvascular lesions are known to be a protective factor. In this proof of concept study, we aim to study the relationship of blood perfusion and the spatial distribution of BM.

Materials and Methods: An average CT perfusion atlas of 107 healthy patients was created. Voxel-wise reference perfusion values were extracted from BM-negative and BM-positive regions in a second cohort of 100 untreated patients harboring 809 BM confirmed by MRI. A comparison of regional perfusion values was performed using the independent t-test.

Results: In contrast to supratentorial BM that develop preferably in areas with lower CBV/CBF and longer MTT/TTP compared to the average regional perfusion ( p < 0.001), infratentorial BM showed a higher CBV/CBF and shorter MTT/TTP ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our results imply differing pathophysiological mechanisms underlying supra- and infratentorial BM spreading. The inverse perfusion patterns may result from differences in vascular supply, hemodynamic requirements, and/or production of pro-angiogenic factors.