Lesion characterization using vessel permeability map to new blood pool contrast agent calculated from dynamic magnetic resonance images

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a non-invasive method to evaluate significant differences between malignant and normal tissue

PURPOSE

An ever recurring challenge in diagnostic radiology is the differentiation between non-malignant and malignant tissue. Based on evidence that microcirculation of normal, non-malignant tissue differs from that of malignant tissue, the goal of this study was to assess the reliability of dynamic contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dcMRI) for differentiating these two entities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DcMRI data of rectum carcinoma and gluteus maximus muscles were acquired in 41 patients. Using an fast T1-mapping sequence on a 1.5-T whole body scanner, T1-maps were dynamically retrieved before, during and after constant rate i.v. infusion of a contrast medium (CM). On the basis of the acquired data sets, PI-values were calculated on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The relevance of spatial heterogeneities of microcirculation was investigated by relative frequency histograms of the PI-values.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference between malignant and normal tissue was found for the mean PI-value (P < 0.001; 8.95 ml/min/100 g +/- 2.45 versus 3.56 ml/min/100 g +/- 1.20). Additionally relative frequency distributions of PI-values with equal class intervals of 2.5 ml/min/100 g revealed significant differences between the histograms of muscles and rectum carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

We could show that microcirculation differences between malignant and normal, non-malignant tissue can be reliably assessed by non-invasive dcMRI. Therefore, dcMRI holds great promise in the aid of cancer assessment, especially in patients where biopsy is contraindicated.

Novel intravascular macromolecular MRI contrast agent with generation-4 polyamidoamine dendrimer core: accelerated renal excretion with coinjection of lysine

One of the major limitations to macromolecular MRI contrast agents (MRI-CAs) is their slow clearance and associated decreased excretion of gadolinium (Gd(III)). The effect of coinjecting lysine to accelerate renal excretion of a macromolecular MRI-CA (generation-4 PAMAM dendrimer (G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64)) was investigated. The biodistribution and urine and fecal excretion in athymic mice was evaluated with and without lysine coinjection. 3D-dynamic-micro-MRI with G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64 was obtained with and without lysine coinjection, and the serial signal intensity (SI) change in the blood and organs was evaluated. When lysine was coinjected, urinary excretion of G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64 increased 5.4-fold compared to that without lysine, resulting in decreased renal accumulation of G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64 from 150% to 40% injected dose per gram (P < 0.001). On dynamic MRI with G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64, when lysine was coinjected, the kidney-to-blood SI ratio was significantly lower than that obtained without lysine (P < 0.001). When lysine was coinjected, the G4D-(1B4M-Gd)64 was excreted from the kidney intact.