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Oxygenation in cervical cancer and normal uterine cervix assessed using blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) MRI at 3T
Author(s) -
Hallac Rami R.,
Ding Yao,
Yuan Qing,
McColl Roderick W.,
Lea Jayanthi,
Sims Robert D.,
Weatherall Paul T.,
Mason Ralph P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
nmr in biomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1099-1492
pISSN - 0952-3480
DOI - 10.1002/nbm.2804
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical cancer , oxygenation , cervix , magnetic resonance imaging , hypoxia (environmental) , nuclear medicine , cancer , radiology , oxygen , chemistry , organic chemistry
Hypoxia is reported to be a biomarker for poor prognosis in cervical cancer. However, a practical noninvasive method is needed for the routine clinical evaluation of tumor hypoxia. This study examined the potential use of blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) contrast MRI as a noninvasive technique to assess tumor vascular oxygenation at 3T. Following Institutional Review Board‐approved informed consent and in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, successful results were achieved in nine patients with locally advanced cervical cancer [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIA to IVA] and three normal volunteers. In the first four patients, dynamic T 2 *‐weighted MRI was performed in the transaxial plane using a multi‐shot echo planar imaging sequence whilst patients breathed room air followed by oxygen (15 dm 3 /min). Later, a multi‐echo gradient echo examination was added to provide quantitative R 2 * measurements. The baseline T 2 *‐weighted signal intensity was quite stable, but increased to various extents in tumors on initiation of oxygen breathing. The signal in normal uterus increased significantly, whereas that in the iliacus muscle did not change. R 2 * responded significantly in healthy uterus, cervix and eight cervical tumors. This preliminary study demonstrates that BOLD MRI of cervical cancer at 3T is feasible. However, more patients must be evaluated and followed clinically before any prognostic value can be determined. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.