NMR relaxation times T 1 and T 2 of water in plasma from patients with lung carcinoma: Correlation of T 2 with blood sedimentation rate

The T 1 and T 2 NMR relaxation times of water protons in plasma, obtained from patients with lung carcinoma, healthy volunteers, and patients with nontumor diseases were measured at a resonance frequency of 20 MHz. Additionally hematologic parameters were determined. In tumor patients the mean plasma T 2 was shortened by about 20%, and an increase in the blood sedimentation rate (BSR) was noted. Similar but less pronounced results were found for the nontumor group of patients, indicating that the shortening of T 2 in plasma is a secondary host response. However, a plot of plasma 1/ T 2 versus BSR from tumor patients showed a significant correlation between these two parameters. No such correlation could be detected in the nontumor group of patients. The correlation of 1/ T 2 with BSR, found solely in the tumor patient group, increased the diagnostic sensitivity of T 2 measurements and may help to differentiate between malignant and nonmalignant disease. No significant variation in the T 1 spin‐lattice relaxation time was observed. © Academic Press, Inc.