Application of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)in prostate cancer diagnosis

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the application of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)in prostate cancer diagnosis.Methods In the outpatient department of our hospital(Sichuan Cancer Hospital,Chengdu,China),60 patients diagnosed with prostate disease were selected randomly and included in a prostate cancer group,60 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in a proliferation group,and 60 healthy subjects were included in a control group,from January 2013 to January 2017.Using Siemens Avanto 1.5 T high-field superconducting MRI for DCE-MRI and MRS scans,after the MRS scan was completed,we used the workstation spectroscopy tab spectral analysis,and eventually obtained the crest lines of the prostate metabolites choline(Cho),creatine(Cr),citrate(Cit),and the values of Cho/Cit,and(Cho+Cr)/Cit.Results Participants who had undergone 21-s,1-min,and 2-min dynamic contrast-enhanced MR revealed significant variations among the three groups.The spectral analysis of the three groups revealed a significant variation as well.DCE-MRI and MRS combined had a sensitivity of 89.67%,specificity of 95.78%,and accuracy of 94.34%.Conclusion DCE-MRI combined with MRS is of great value in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Comparison of clinical value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and SPECT renal dynamic imaging of GFR measurement in the evaluation of renal function in renal transplantation

Objective:To compare the clinical value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI)and single-photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)renal dynamic imaging in the measurement of glomerular filtration rate(GFR)in the evaluation of renal function in renal transplantation.Methods:A total of 70 recipients who underwent renal transplantation in Baogang Hospital of Inner Mongolia from April of 2015 to April of 2018 were selected as research objects.GFR was measured in renal transplant recipients by use of DCE-MRI and SPECT(GFR-MRI and GFR-SPECT respectively),and was compared with creatinine clearance rate(Ccr).The safety of contrast media was evaluated in DCE-MRI detection.Results:The bias of GFR-MRI against Ccr value was higher than that of GFR-SPECT against Ccr value,with 30%and 50%accuracy of GFR-MRI higher than that of GFR-SPECT,and the difference was statistically significant(p<.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that GFR-MRI and GFR-SPECT values were positively correlated to Ccr(p<.05),and the correlation coefficient of GFR-MRI and Ccr was higher than that of GFR-SPECT and Ccr,with the difference statistically significant(p<.05).By Bland-Altman analysis,95%confidence interval of GFR-SPECT was 95.49 ml/(min·1.73 m^(2)),and 95%confidence interval of GFR-MRI was 62.35 ml/(min·1.73m^(2)),which was much narrower.Only 2 cases of patients developed mild rash among 70 cases of patients,and recovered spontaneously without any treatment.Conclusions:Compared with SPECT,the bias of GFR measured by DCE-MRI against Ccr is much greater.However,DCE-MRI has a higher accuracy,correlation and consistency in comparison with Ccr,and it has a narrower confidence interval.DCE-MRI can more accurately evaluate renal function in renal transplantation by measuring GFR,and it has a high safety.

Discrimination of Metastatic from Non-metastatic Mesorectal Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer Using Quantitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Preoperative detection of lymph nodes（LNs） metastasis is always highly challenging for radiologists nowadays. The utility of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging（QDCE-MRI） in identifying LNs metastasis is not well understood. In the present study, 59 patients with histologically proven rectal carcinoma underwent preoperative QDCE-MRI. The short axis diameter ratio, long axis diameter ratio, short-to-long axis diameter ratio and QDEC-MRI parameters（Ktrans, Kep, fPV and Ve） values were compared between the non-metastatic（n=44） and metastatic（n=35） LNs groups based on pathological examination. Compared with the non-metastatic group, the metastatic group exhibited significantly higher short axis diameter（7.558±0.668 mm vs. 5.427±0.285 mm）, Ktrans（0.483±0.198 min-1 vs. 0.218±0.116 min^-1） and Ve（0.399±0.118 vs. 0.203±0.096） values（all P〈0.05）. The short-to-long axis diameter ratio, long axis diameter ratio, Kep and fPV values did not show significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, our results showed that for LNs larger than 5 mm in rectal cancer, there are distinctive differences in the Ktrans and Ve values between the metastatic and non-metastatic LNs, suggesting that QDCE-MRI may be potentially helpful in identifying LNs status.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging findings of bone metastasis in patients with prostate cancer

AIM:To evaluate the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) findings of bone metastasis in prostate cancer patients.METHODS:Sixteen men with a diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer to bones were examined with DCE-MRI at 1.5 Tesla.The mean contrast agent concentration vs time curves for bone metastasis and normal bone were calculated and K trans and ve values were estimated and compared.RESULTS:An early significant enhancement (wash-out:n=6,plateau:n=8 and persistent:n=2) was detected in all bone metastases (n=16).Bone metastasis from prostate cancer showed significant enhancementand high K trans and ve values compared to normal bone which does not enhance in the elderly population.The mean K trans was 0.101/mmiinn and 0.0051/mmiinn (P < 0.001),the mean ve was 0.141 and 0.0038 (P < 0.001),for bone metastases and normal bone,respectively.

Prediction of radiosensitivity in primary central nervous system germ cell tumors using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Objective： To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging（DCEMRI） for predicting tumor response to radiotherapy in patients with suspected primary central nervous system（CNS） germ cell tumors（GCTs）.Methods： DCE-MRI parameters of 35 patients with suspected primary CNS GCTs were obtained prior to diagnostic radiation, using the Tofts and Kermode model. Radiosensitivity was determined in tumors diagnosed 2 weeks after radiation by observing changes in tumor size and markers as a response to MRI. Taking radiosensitivity as the gold standard, the cut-off value of DCE-MRI parameters was measured by receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve. Diagnostic accuracy of DCE-MRI parameters for predicting radiosensitivity was evaluated by ROC curve.Results： A significant elevation in transfer constant（K^trans） and extravascular extracellular space（Ve）（P=0.000）, as well as a significant reduction in rate constant（Kep）（P=0.000） was observed in tumors. K^trans, relative K^trans, and relative Kep of the responsive group were significantly higher than non-responsive groups. No significant difference was found in Kep, Ve, and relative Ve between the two groups. Relative K^trans showed the best diagnostic value in predicting radiosensitivity with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 91.7%, positive predictive value（PPV） of 95.8%, and negative predictive value（NPV） of 100%.Conclusions： Relative K^trans appeared promising in predicting tumor response to radiation therapy（RT）. It is implied that DCE-MRI pre-treatment is a requisite step in diagnostic procedures and a novel and reliable approach to guide clinical choice of RT.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of prostate cancer: A review of current methods and applications

In many areas of oncology, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI) has proven to be a clinically useful, non-invasive functional imaging technique to quantify tumor vasculature and tumor perfusion characteristics. Tumor angiogenesis is an essential process for tumor growth, proliferation, and metastasis. Malignant lesions demonstrate rapid extravasation of contrast from the intravascular space to the capillary bed due to leaky capillaries associated with tumor neovascularity. DCE-MRI has the potential to provide information regarding blood flow, areas of hypoperfusion, and variations in endothelial permeability and microvessel density to aid treatment selection, enable frequent monitoring during treatment and assess response to targeted therapy following treatment. This review will discuss the current status of DCE-MRI in cancer imaging, with a focus on its use in imaging prostate malignancies as well as weaknesses that limit its widespread clinical use. The latest techniques for quantification of DCE-MRI parameters will be reviewed and compared.

Usefulness of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the evaluation of pulmonary isolated lesions

Objective： The aim of our study was to investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for evaluating differential diagnosis of pulmonary isolated lesions. Methods： Twenty-nine consecutive patients enrolled in this study, all of whom underwent DCE-MRI examinations and received a histologic and clinical diagnosis. Among these, lung tuberculoma 7 cases, harmatoma 3 cases, peripheral lung cancer 19 cases. DCE-MRI was acquired with 3D LAVA technique, total 18 phases were acquired, scanner time of per phase was 5-7″. After contrasting agent, twice successive scanning was acquired at 10″ and 50″. Then 1′30″, 2′, 2′30″, 3′, 3′30″, 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′ performed scanning. Region of interest was placed on the Maximum level in the tumors. According to Schaefer＇s standard, four types of time signal intensity curve （TIC） were classified, which were A, B, C and D. Compared the dynamic parameters between benign and malignant nodules. Results： Lung tuberculoma may display three curves： A type 1 case, ring-shaped enhancement 4 cases （periphery ring A type, central region D type）, D type 2 cases. Harmatoma may display three curves： A type 1 case, C type 2 case. Peripheral lung cancer may display A type. Except 2 cases D type lung tuberculoma, we compared curve data of 8 cases benign nodules （including tuberculoma Atype and periphery ring Atype, harmatoma Atype and C type） and lung cancer. SlEP%： benign nodules 0.7885 ±0.5543, lung cancer 1.2623 ±0.3059, P 〈 0.05; MER： benign nodules 1.0007 ± 0.4251, lung cancer 1.3694 ±0.2740, P 〈 0.05; washout： P 〉 0.05. Conclusion： Lung MR imaging is helpful to diagnosis and differential diagnosis of isolated benign and malignant nodules. SIEP% and MER could offer valuable information. The evolution of global tuberculosis may be from A type to ring-shaped ennoblement to D type. It was easy to do right diagnosis to lung tuberculoma with ring-shaped ennoblement and D type. Peripheral lung cancer commonly displayed A type and needed identification with acute inflammation. So, it is important to anti-inflammatory follow-up for a few A type nodules.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Perfusion MR Imaging Measurements of Endothelial Permeability: Differentiation between Atypical and Typical Meningiomas

BACKGROUND: AND PURPOSE: The measurement of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and the volume transfer constant (K(trans)) by means of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion MR imaging (pMRI) can be useful in characterizing brain tumors. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the utility of these measurements in differentiating typical meningiomas and atypical meningiomas. METHODS: Fifteen patients with pathologically confirmed typical meningiomas and seven with atypical meningiomas underwent conventional imaging and DCE pMRI before resection.rCBV measurements were calculated by using standard intravascular

Correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameters before colon cancer surgery with the angiogenesis and cell proliferation in tumor lesions

Objective: To discuss the correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameters before colon cancer surgery with the angiogenesis and cell proliferation in tumor lesions. Methods: A total of 186 patients with colon cancer who were treated in the hospital between January 2015 and January 2017 were collected as colon cancer group;100 patients with multiple polyposis of colon who received colonoscopy in the hospital during the same period were selected as colon polyp group. The differences in DCE-MRI parameters as well as the expression of angiogenesis and cell proliferation genes were compared between the two groups, and Pearson test was used to evaluate the correlation of preoperative DCE-MRI parameters with angiogenesis and cell proliferation gene expression in patients with colon cancer. Results: Preoperative DCE-MRI parameters Ktrans and Kep levels in colon cancer group were significantly higher those in colon polyp group;Cyr61, HIF-α, VEGF, MMP-9, CXCR7, EZH2, SphK1 and IFT57 mRNA expression in lesion tissue of colon cancer group were significantly higher than those of colon polyp group while Kiss-1 mRNA was lower than that of colon polyp group. Pearson test showed that the DCE-MRI parameters Ktrans and Kep levels before colon cancer surgery were directly correlated with the expression of angiogenesis and cell proliferation genes in lesion tissues. Conclusion: Preoperative DCE-MRI parameters can accurately reflect the severity of colon cancer.

Quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of hepatic benign and malignant lesions and their clinical value

Objective:To determine the quantitative parameter levels of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hepatic benign and malignant lesions and to explore their value for the evaluation of the disease.Methods: A total of 67 patients with primary liver cancer and 78 patients with hepatic benign lesion were selected as the liver cancer group and hepatic benign lesion group respectively. The preoperative quantitative parameter levels of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the two groups were measured, and the correlation of the specific parameter levels with liver cancer-related proliferation and invasion gene expression was evaluated.Results: The mean time to enhance (MET) and maximum slope of increase (MSI) levels of the liver cancer group were lower than those of the hepatic benign lesion group while the maximum slope of decrease (MSD) level was higher than that of the hepatic benign lesion group. Proliferation genes PRMT5, CDCA5, SIRT2, XIAP and Cep55 mRNA expression in the lesion tissues of the liver cancer group were all higher than those of the hepatic benign lesion group;invasion genes Cripto-1 and IFITM3 mRNA expression were higher than those of the hepatic benign lesion group while KLF4 and HOXA9 mRNA expression were lower than those of the hepatic benign lesion group. Pearson test showed that the quantitative parameters MET, MSI and MSD levels of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in liver cancer tissues were directly correlated with the proliferation and invasion activity of cancer cells.Conclusion: The quantitative parameters MET, MSI and MSD levels of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of liver cancer are significantly abnormal, and the specific levels could objectively reflect the tumor malignancy.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI versus ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT: Which is better in differentiation between malignant and benign solitary pulmonary nodules?

Objective： To prospectively compare the discriminative capacity of dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging（DCE-MRI） with that of^18F-fluorodeoxyglucose（^18F-FDG） positron emission tomography/computed tomography（PET/CT） in the differentiation of malignant and benign solitary pulmonary nodules（SPNs）.Methods： Forty-nine patients with SPNs were included in this prospective study. Thirty-two of the patients had malignant SPNs, while the other 17 had benign SPNs. All these patients underwent DCE-MRI and ^18F-FDG PET/CT examinations. The quantitative MRI pharmacokinetic parameters, including the trans-endothelial transfer constant（K^trans）, redistribution rate constant（Kep）, and fractional volume（Ve）, were calculated using the Extended-Tofts Linear two-compartment model. The ^18F-FDG PET/CT parameter, maximum standardized uptake value（SUV（max））, was also measured. Spearman＇s correlations were calculated between the MRI pharmacokinetic parameters and the SUV（max） of each SPN. These parameters were statistically compared between the malignant and benign nodules. Receiver operating characteristic（ROC） analyses were used to compare the diagnostic capability between the DCE-MRI and ^18F-FDG PET/CT indexes.Results： Positive correlations were found between K^trans and SUV（max）, and between K（ep） and SUV（max）（P〈0.05）.There were significant differences between the malignant and benign nodules in terms of the K^trans, K（ep） and SUV（max） values（P〈0.05）. The areas under the ROC curve（AUC） of K^trans） K（ep） and SUV（max） between the malignant and benign nodules were 0.909, 0.838 and 0.759, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity in differentiating malignant from benign SPNs were 90.6% and 82.4% for K^trans; 87.5% and 76.5% for K（ep）; and 75.0% and 70.6%for SUV（max）, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of K^trans and K（ep） were higher than those of SUV（max）, but there was no significant difference between them（P〉0.05）.Conclusions： DCE-MRI can be used to differentiate between benign and malignant SPNs and has the advantage of being radiation free.

Prostatic Cancer: Diagnosis and Differentiation by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI

To assess the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in thediagnosis and differentiation of prostatic cancer (PC). Methods: Five volunteers, 36 patients withbenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 13 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwentconventional MRI, DCE-MRI and delayed enhancement MRI. The value of the signal intensity in DCE-MRIwas measured and calculated to draw the time-signal intensity curve of the normal peripheral zone(PZ), the prostate cancer and the benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results: In DCE-MRI, the normalperipheral zone was enhanced mildly and slowly and the peak value was located in late phase. Theenhancement of the lesions in 36 patients with the benign prostatic hyperplasia was obvious in earlyphase and strengthened gradually, and then turned to decrease in late phase after peak value. Thelesions in 9 of 13 cases with prostate cancer were enhanced obviously in early phase and washed outrapidly, and the peak value was located in early phase, but the peak value was in mediate and latephase in the other 4 cases with diffuse lesion in the prostate on T_2WI. Conclusion: In DCE-MRI, theenhancement patterns of the normal peripheral zone, the prostate cancer and the benign prostatichyperplasia were significantly different. DCE-MRI was very useful in the diagnosis anddifferentiation of prostate cancer.

Evaluation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in monitoring early response of locally advanced breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective： The aim of our study was to assess the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging （DMRI） in predicting early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy （NAC） in patients with locally advanced breast cancer （LABC） and to assess the accuracy of DMRI in evaluating residual disease after NAC. Methods： DMRI were per- formed in 43 women with LABC （44 lesions, all were invasive ductal carcinoma） before, after the first and final cycle of NAC. Tumour volume, early enhanced ratio （El）, maximum enhanced ratio （Emax）, and maximum enhanced time （Tmax）, dynamic signal intensity-time curve were obtained during treatment. Residual tumour volumes obtained using DMRI were compared with pathological findings to assess the accuracy of DMRI. Results： After 1st cycle of NAC, the mean volume of responders decreased insignificantly, P 〉 0.05, but after NAC, mean volume of residual tumor decreased significantly （P 〈 0.01）. Morphol- ogy change： 29 cases showed a concentric shrinkage pattern while 7 cases showed a dendritic shrinkage pattern. Significant differences were found in El, Emax and Tmax between responders and non-responders （P 〈 0.05）. After 1st cycle of NAC, El, Emax and Tmax of responders changed significantly （P 〈 0.001）; while there is no significant change in non-responders （P 〉 0.05）. After NAC, dynamic signal intensity-time types were changed in responders, and tended to be significantly flat- tening, while no significant change was found in non-responders. The residual tumour volume correlation coefficient between DMRI and pathology measurements was very high （r = 0.866, P = 0.000）. Conclusion： DMRI is useful to evaluate the early response to NAC in LABC. The presence and volume of residual disease in LABC patients treated with NAC could be ac- curately evaluated by DMRI.

Correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of uterine sarcoma with sarcoma cell proliferation and invasion in lesions

Objective:To investigate the correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of uterine sarcoma with sarcoma cell proliferation and invasion in lesions.Methods: A total of 38 patients with uterine sarcoma undergoing surgical treatment in this hospital between August 2015 and June 2017 were selected as uterine sarcoma group, and 50 patients with uterine fibroids undergoing surgical treatment in this hospital during the same period were selected as uterine fibroids group. The differences in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameter levels as well as the expression of proliferation and invasion-related genes in lesion tissue were compared between the two groups of patients. Pearson test was used to assess the internal relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of uterine sarcoma and sarcoma cell malignancy.Results: The ADC and TTP levels in uterine sarcoma group were lower than those in uterine fibroids group;AgNOR, KIT and c-kit mRNA expression in the lesion tissue of uterine sarcoma group were higher than those of uterine fibroids group whereas PTEN mRNA expression was lower than that of uterine fibroids group;HOXA10 and Dickkopf mRNA expression in the lesion tissue of uterine sarcoma group were lower than those of uterine myoma group whereas Matriptase, PDGF and PRL-3 mRNA expression were higher than those of uterine fibroids group. Correlation analysis showed that the ADC and TTP levels in patients with uterine sarcoma were directly correlated with the expression of proliferation genes and invasion genes in the lesion tissue.Conclusion: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of uterine sarcoma are significantly different from those of benign uterine fibroids, and the specific parameter levels are directly correlated with tumor cell proliferation and invasion activity.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters of breast cancer tissue and their correlation with cancer cell proliferation and invasion

Objective:To study the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) parameters of breast cancer tissue and their correlation with cancer cell proliferation and invasion.Methods: A total of 92 patients with breast mass who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital between July 2012 and June 2016 were collected as research subjects. According to the results of pathological examination, the patients were divided into breast adenoma group (n=52) and breast cancer group (n=40). DCE-MRI parameter levels of breast mass were analyzed between two groups of patients, and the mRNA expression of proliferation and invasion genes in tumor samples were compared. Pearson test was used to further evaluate the relationship between the DCE-MRI parameter levels of breast cancer tissue and the malignant degree of tumor.Results:The DCE-MRI parameter TTP level in breast cancer group was lower than that in breast adenoma group while EER and SLOPE levels were higher than those in breast adenoma group. Proliferation genes C6orf106, HMGB2, ETS-1 and BRG1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue of breast cancer group were higher than those of breast adenoma group, and invasion genes ADAM9, Ezrin and Nanog mRNA expression were higher than those of breast adenoma group while CRM197 and EBP50 mRNA expression were lower than those of breast adenoma group. The Pearson test showed that the DCE-MRI parameter levels of breast cancer tissues were directly correlated with the mRNA expression of proliferation and invasion genes.Conclusion:DCE-MRI parameter levels are abnormal in breast cancer tissues, and the abnormal degree is directly correlated with the malignant biological behavior of tumor cells.

Evaluating pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction:Dynamic magnetic resonance urography vs renal scintigraphy 99mtechnetium mercaptoacetyltriglycine

BACKGROUND Ureteropelvic junction obstruction(UPJO)is a common congenital urinary tract disorder in children.It can be diagnosed as early as in utero due to the presence of hydronephrosis or later in life due to symptomatic occurrence.AIM To evaluate the discrepancy between dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance urography(dMRU)and scintigraphy 99m-technetium mercaptoacetyltriglycine(MAG-3)for the functional evaluation of UPJO.METHODS Between 2016 and 2020,126 patients with UPJO underwent surgery at Robert DebréHospital.Of these,83 received a prenatal diagnosis,and 43 were diagnosed during childhood.Four of the 126 patients underwent surgery based on the clinical situation and postnatal ultrasound findings without undergoing functional imaging evaluation.Split renal function was evaluated preoperatively using scintigraphy MAG-3(n=28),dMRU(n=53),or both(n=40).In this study,we included patients who underwent surgery for UPJO and scintigraphy MAG-3+dMRU but excluded those who underwent only scintigraphy MAG-3 or dMRU.The patients were divided into groups A(<10%discrepancy)and B(>10%discrepancy).We examined the discrepancy in split renal function between the two modalities and investigated the possible risk factors.RESULTS The split renal function between the two kidneys was compared in 40 patients(28 boys and 12 girls)using scintigraphy MAG-3 and dMRU.Differential renal function,as determined using both modalities,showed a difference of<10%in 31 children and>10%in 9 children.Calculation of the relative renal function using dMRU revealed an excellent correlation coefficient with renal scintigraphy MAG-3 for both kidneys.CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that dMRU is equivalent to scintigraphy MAG-3 for evaluating split renal function in patients with UPJO.

Impact of the arterial input function on microvascularization parameter measurements using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

AIM: To evaluate the sources of variation influencing the microvascularization parameters measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US). METHODS: Firstly, we evaluated, in vitro , the impact of the manual repositioning of the ultrasound probe and the variations in flow rates. Experiments were conducted using a custom-made phantom setup simulating a tumor and its associated arterial input. Secondly, we evaluated, in vivo , the impact of multiple contrast agent injections and of examination day, as well as the influence of the size of region of interest (ROI) associated with the arterial input function (AIF). Experiments were conducted on xenografted B16F10 female nude mice. For all of the experiments, an ultrasound scanner along with a linear transducer was used to perform pulse inversion imaging based on linear raw data throughout the experiments. Semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses were performed using two signal-processing methods. RESULTS:In vitro , no microvascularization parameters, whether semi-quantitative or quantitative, were significantly correlated (P values from 0.059 to 0.860) with the repositioning of the probe. In addition, all semiquantitative microvascularization parameters were correlated with the flow variation while only one quantitative parameter, the tumor blood flow, exhibited P value lower than 0.05 (P = 0.004). In vivo , multiple contrast agent injections had no significant impact (P values from 0.060 to 0.885) on microvascularization parameters. In addition, it was demonstrated that semi-quantitative microvascularization parameters were correlated with the tumor growth while among the quantitative parameters, only the tissue blood flow exhibited P value lower than 0.05 (P = 0.015). Based on these results, it was demonstrated that the ROI size of the AIF had significant influence on microvascularization parameters: in the context of larger arterial ROI (from 1.17 ± 0.6 mm 3 to 3.65 ± 0.3 mm 3 ), tumor blood flow and tumor blood volume were correlated with the tumor growth, exhibiting P values lower than 0.001. CONCLUSION: AIF selection is an essential aspect of the deconvolution process to validate the quantitative DCE-US method.

动态增强MRI定量参数及肿瘤标记物对乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的评估价值分析

目的:探索动态增强磁共振成像(DCE-MRI)定量参数及肿瘤标记物对乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效的评估价值。方法:选取2019年5月至2022年5月在济宁市第一人民医院接受新辅助化疗联合手术干预的75例乳腺癌患者,根据实体瘤疗效评价标准(RECIST)将其分为有效组(54例)和无效组(21例),比较化疗前和化疗后两组患者DCE-MRI定量参数血管外细胞外间隙容积比(V_(e))、速率常数(K_(ep))及容积转换常数(K^(trans))指标与肿瘤标志物癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原(CA125)及糖类抗原15-3(CA15-3)水平,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析各项诊断方式预测效能。结果:化疗后,有效组患者DCEMRI定量参数Ve、K_(ep)及K^(trans)与无效组比较,差异有统计学意义(t=7.237、51.695、16.879,P<0.05)。有效组患者肿瘤标志物CEA、CA125及CA15-3与无效组比较,差异有统计学意义(t=44.201、6.736、6.885,P<0.05)。V_(e)、K_(ep)、K^(trans)、CEA、CA125及CA15-3的6项指标联合预测乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效ROC曲线下面积(AUC)值为0.979,显著高于各项指标单独检测的AUC值,差异有统计学意义(Z=2.993、2.679、2.510、2.731、3.215、3.071,P<0.05)。结论:肿瘤标记物联合DCE-MRI定量参数可更好预测乳腺癌新辅助化疗疗效情况,间接评估预后。

基于多模态MRI定量分析诊断宫颈癌宫旁浸润的研究

目的探讨多模态MRI定量分析诊断宫颈癌宫旁浸润的价值。方法回顾性分析2019年1月~2021年12月新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院收治的86例宫颈癌患者临床资料,根据病理结果分为宫旁浸润组31例与非宫旁浸润组55例。所有患者均接受MRI常规平扫及扩散加权成像(DWI)扫描、动态对比增强磁共振成像(DCE-MRI)扫描,获得感兴趣区表观弥散系数(ADC)值和对比剂容积转换常量(K^(trans))、速率常数(K_(ep))、血管外细胞间隙容积分数(V_(e))值等多模态MRI定量参数。比较宫旁浸润组和非宫旁浸润组临床特征、ADC值和DCE-MRI定量参数;Pearson相关性分析宫颈癌宫旁浸润患者ADC值和K^(trans)、K_(ep)、V_(e)的关系;受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析ADC值和K^(trans)、K_(ep)、V_(e)对宫颈癌宫旁浸润的诊断效能。结果宫旁浸润组与非宫旁浸润组肿瘤直径和病理分级的分布差异比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);宫旁浸润组K^(trans)、K_(ep)和V_(e)均明显高于非宫旁浸润组(P<0.05);Pearson相关性显示,宫颈癌宫旁浸润患者ADC值与V_(e)值呈明显的正相关(P<0.05);ROC显示,K^(trans)、K_(ep)、V_(e)值诊断宫颈癌宫旁浸润的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.876、0.821和0.864(P<0.05)。结论多模态MRI定量参数对宫颈癌宫旁浸润具有较好的诊断价值,可为宫颈癌宫旁浸润的影像诊断提供量化参考。

Progress of magnetic resonance imaging radiomics in preoperative lymph node diagnosis of esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer,also referred to as esophagus cancer,is a prevalent disease in the cardiothoracic field and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in China.Accurately determining the status of lymph nodes is crucial for developing treatment plans,defining the scope of intraoperative lymph node dissection,and ascertaining the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.Recent advances in diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)have improved the effectiveness of MRI for assessing lymph node involvement,making it a beneficial tool for guiding personalized treatment plans for patients with esophageal cancer in a clinical setting.Radiomics is a recently developed imaging technique that transforms radiological image data from regions of interest into high-dimensional feature data that can be analyzed.The features,such as shape,texture,and waveform,are associated with the cancer phenotype and tumor microenvironment.When these features correlate with the clinical disease outcomes,they form the basis for specific and reliable clinical evidence.This study aimed to review the potential clinical applications of MRIbased radiomics in studying the lymph nodes affected by esophageal cancer.The combination of MRI and radiomics is a powerful tool for diagnosing and treating esophageal cancer,enabling a more personalized and effectual approach.