TY - JOUR
T1 - Improved repeatability of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI using the complex MRI signal to derive arterial input functions
T2 - a test-retest study in prostate cancer patients
AU - Klawer, Edzo M E
AU - van Houdt, Petra J
AU - Simonis, Frank F J
AU - van den Berg, Cornelis A T
AU - Pos, Floris J
AU - Heijmink, Stijn W T P J
AU - Isebaert, Sofie
AU - Haustermans, Karin
AU - van der Heide, Uulke A
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - PURPOSE: The arterial input function (AIF) is a major source of uncertainty in tracer kinetic (TK) analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI data. The aim of this study was to investigate the repeatability of AIFs extracted from the complex signal and of the resulting TK parameters in prostate cancer patients.METHODS: Twenty-two patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent a 3T MRI exam twice. DCE-MRI data were acquired with a 3D spoiled gradient echo sequence. AIFs were extracted from the magnitude of the signal (AIFMAGN ), phase (AIFPHASE ), and complex signal (AIFCOMPLEX ). The Tofts model was applied to extract Ktrans , kep and ve . Repeatability of AIF curve characteristics and TK parameters was assessed with the within-subject coefficient of variation (wCV).RESULTS: The wCV for peak height and full width at half maximum for AIFCOMPLEX (7% and 8%) indicated an improved repeatability compared to AIFMAGN (12% and 12%) and AIFPHASE (12% and 7%). This translated in lower wCV values for Ktrans (11%) with AIFCOMPLEX in comparison to AIFMAGN (24%) and AIFPHASE (15%). For kep , the wCV was 16% with AIFMAGN , 13% with AIFPHASE , and 13% with AIFCOMPLEX .CONCLUSION: Repeatability of AIFPHASE and AIFCOMPLEX is higher than for AIFMAGN , resulting in a better repeatability of TK parameters. Thus, use of either AIFPHASE or AIFCOMPLEX improves the robustness of quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI in prostate cancer.
AB - PURPOSE: The arterial input function (AIF) is a major source of uncertainty in tracer kinetic (TK) analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI data. The aim of this study was to investigate the repeatability of AIFs extracted from the complex signal and of the resulting TK parameters in prostate cancer patients.METHODS: Twenty-two patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent a 3T MRI exam twice. DCE-MRI data were acquired with a 3D spoiled gradient echo sequence. AIFs were extracted from the magnitude of the signal (AIFMAGN ), phase (AIFPHASE ), and complex signal (AIFCOMPLEX ). The Tofts model was applied to extract Ktrans , kep and ve . Repeatability of AIF curve characteristics and TK parameters was assessed with the within-subject coefficient of variation (wCV).RESULTS: The wCV for peak height and full width at half maximum for AIFCOMPLEX (7% and 8%) indicated an improved repeatability compared to AIFMAGN (12% and 12%) and AIFPHASE (12% and 7%). This translated in lower wCV values for Ktrans (11%) with AIFCOMPLEX in comparison to AIFMAGN (24%) and AIFPHASE (15%). For kep , the wCV was 16% with AIFMAGN , 13% with AIFPHASE , and 13% with AIFCOMPLEX .CONCLUSION: Repeatability of AIFPHASE and AIFCOMPLEX is higher than for AIFMAGN , resulting in a better repeatability of TK parameters. Thus, use of either AIFPHASE or AIFCOMPLEX improves the robustness of quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI in prostate cancer.
KW - arterial input function
KW - complex signal
KW - dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI
KW - prostate cancer
KW - repeatability
KW - tracer kinetic analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060260773&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/mrm.27646
DO - 10.1002/mrm.27646
M3 - Article
C2 - 30656738
SN - 0740-3194
VL - 81
SP - 3358
EP - 3369
JO - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
IS - 5
ER -