Phase-based Arterial Input Function Measurements in the Femoral Arteries for Quantification of Dynamic Contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and Comparison With DCE-CT

Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI is useful for diagnosis, treatment monitoring and follow-up of prostate cancer. However, large differences have been reported in the parameter range of the transfer constant K-trans, making longitudinal studies and comparison of DCE-MRI findings between studies difficult. Large part of this inconsistency in K-trans values can be attributed to problems with the accurate measurement of the arterial input function (AIF) from the magnitude signal (AIF(MAGN)). Phase-based AIF measurements (AIF(PHASE)) have been proposed as a more robust alternative to AIFMAGN measurements. This study compares AIFPHASE with AIFs measured with DCE-CT (AIF(CT)), and the corresponding K-trans maps in 12 prostate cancer patients. The shape of AIF(PHASE) and AIF(CT) are similar, although differences in the peak height and peak width exist as a result of differences in injection protocol. No significant differences in K-trans values were found between the DCE-MRI and DCE-CT exams, with median K-trans values of 0.10 and 0.08 min(-1) for healthy peripheral zone tissue and 0.44 and 0.36 min(-1) for regions suspected of tumor respectively. Therefore, robust quantification of K-trans values from DCE-MRI exams in the cancerous prostate is feasible with the use of AIF(PHASE). Magn Reson Med 66: 1267-1274, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.