Premium
T 2 *‐relaxivity contrast imaging: First results
Author(s) -
Sourbron Steven,
Heilmann Melanie,
Walczak Christine,
Vautier Julien,
Schad Lothar R.,
Volk Andreas
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.24383
Subject(s) - contrast (vision) , volume (thermodynamics) , plasma volume , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance , dynamic contrast , nuclear medicine , chemistry , radiology , medicine , physics , optics , quantum mechanics
In this study, T 2 *‐ relaxivity contrast imaging (RCI) is proposed for new contrast generation in MRI. The method produces images of relaxivities r * 2,vasc and r * 2,EES caused by susceptibility gradients across the vessel walls and cell membranes, respectively. The sensitivity to noise was assessed with a simulation study, and initial results are presented for five colorectal tumor xenografts in nude mice. Simulations show that the new relaxivity parameters are at least as accurate and precise as standard parameters such as plasma volume and interstitial volume. Mean values of both relaxivities were significantly different ( r * 2,vasc = 10.9 ± 2.9 mM −1 s −1 and r * 2,EES = 15.6 ± 2.6 mM −1 s −1 ). r * 2,vasc ( r = 0.67) and r * 2,EES ( r = 0.52) were weakly correlated with plasma volume and interstitial volume, respectively. Images of r * 2,vasc and r * 2,EES reveal a different tumor structure than plasma volume and interstitial volume maps. These results suggest that relaxivity contrast imaging is practically feasible and might offer supplementary information compared to dynamic contrast‐enhanced‐MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.