title: A modified logistic model to describe gadolinium kinetics in breast tumors.
abstract: A five-parameter modified logistic equation is presented that describes the signal enhancement in magnetic resonance dynamic contrast enhanced imaging (MRI-DCE). In this heuristic model, P(1) approximates the baseline signal, P(2) is related to the magnitude of the peak signal enhancement, P(3) is the approximate time of the maximum rate of increase of signal, P(4) is related to the maximum rate of signal enhancement, and P(5) is the terminal slope of the signal enhancement curve. Six breast tumors were studied that exhibited diverse patterns of signal enhancement, and in each case, estimated model parameters were well identified. Three of the model parameters, P(2), P(4) and P(5) describe attributes of the signal enhancement curve that have previously been shown to have diagnostic value with respect to breast cancer. Procedures for using the primary model parameters to derive a number of secondary parameters that may also have diagnostic value are discussed. Sensitivity analysis shows that the signal enhancement curve is highly sensitive to P(3) in the region of the signal intensity curve associated with rapid uptake of the contrast reagent. Consequently, frequent signal sampling in this time domain is indicated to enable identification of P(3) and sensitive fitting of the signal intensity curve. The advantages of this heuristic model compared to commonly used compartmental modeling approaches are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA. moate@vet.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Moate
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Mitchell D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schnall
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Boston
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA