Morphological, contrast-enhanced and spin labeling perfusion imaging for monitoring of relapse after RF ablation of renal cell carcinomas.
MR perfusion imaging was applied for the assessment of completeness in the destruction of renal cell carcinomas by RF ablation (RFA) in a pilot study. An arterial spin labeling (ASL) approach was compared to conventional contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1w) imaging. Ten patients suffering from renal cell carcinoma were treated by RFA. For the assessment of the extent of coagulation and for the detection of residual tumor, T1-weighted gradient-echo imaging, T2-weighted spin echo imaging and two different perfusion imaging techniques were performed before, 1 day and 6 weeks after RFA at 1.5 T. Perfusion imaging comprised CE-T1 weighted and FAIR-TrueFISP ASL imaging. Perfusion images recorded in the acute stage after RFA showed higher compliance to the definitive ablation volume reached after 6 weeks than T2-weighted images, which underestimated the true necrosis size. In the detection of residual tumor tissue, both modalities complimented each other. The exclusion of residual tumor tissue could more reliably be performed using perfusion-imaging methods. Both perfusion-imaging modalities showed sufficient imaging quality for post-interventional monitoring. Perfusion imaging provides a higher predictability of the completeness of tumor ablation and extent of coagulation than T2-weighted imaging alone. Since the results of the FAIR-TrueFISP sequence are promising, the administration of potentially nephrotoxic contrast media may be avoided in the respective patient cohort.
Boss
Andreas
A
Section of Experimental Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hoppe Seyler Strasse 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. andreas.boss@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Martirosian
Petros
P
Schraml
Christina
C
Clasen
Stephan
S
Fenchel
Michael
M
Anastasiadis
Artistotelis
A
Claussen
Claus D
CD
Pereira
Philippe L
PL
Schick
Fritz
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D009336:Necrosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D013113:Spin Labels; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media; D013113:Spin Labels; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA