Key factors in the acquisition of contrast kinetic data for oncology

TLDR

Dynamic contrast‑enhanced MRI is a promising tool for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, yet its clinical utility is limited by substantial variability in acquisition and analysis methods. This review aims to harmonize DCE‑MRI protocols across institutions and ensure physiological accuracy by examining key acquisition factors and offering experimental recommendations. Key acquisition considerations include the relationship between signal enhancement and contrast‑agent concentration, temporal blood concentration variability, spatial and temporal resolution, tumor heterogeneity, and patient motion. © 1999 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.; J.

Abstract

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has recently emerged as a promising method for both diagnosis and prognosis of cancer despite considerable variation in both the methods of data acquisition and analysis. Both to facilitate integration of results from multiple institutions and to ensure that the data reflect the underlying physiology as accurately as possible, several aspects of data acquisition should be taken into account when developing protocols for DCE-MRI regardless of how the data are analyzed. Among the relevant issues are the relationship between signal enhancement and contrast agent concentration, intra- or inter-patient variation in the blood contrast agent concentration as a function of time, requirements for spatial and temporal resolution, the impact of tumor heterogeneity, and the impact of patient motion during the study. This review considers these factors and, when possible, makes specific recommendations for addressing them experimentally. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:254–259. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.