Tracer kinetic analysis of signal time series from dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.
Rapid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes it possible to detect the fast kinetics of tissue response after intravenous administration of a paramagnetic contrast medium (CM), reflecting the status of tissue microcirculation. In this paper, the basic physical and tracer kinetic principles of dynamic relaxivity and susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI are reviewed. Quantitative analysis of data acquired is broken up into an MR-specific part, in which the signal variation observed is related to the CM concentration in the tissue, and an MR-independent part, in which the computed concentration time series are analyzed by tracer kinetic modeling to estimate well-defined physiological tissue parameters. The clinical application of dynamic MRI techniques is demonstrated by two representative studies.
Brix
Gunnar
G
Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Department of Medical Radiation Hygiene and Dosimetry, Neuherberg, Germany. gbrix@bfs.de
Lucht
Robert
R
Griebel
Jürgen
J
D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D004395:Dye Dilution Technique; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media