Pixel-by-pixel analysis of DCE MRI curve patterns and an illustration of its application to the imaging of the musculoskeletal system.
Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI is a widespread method that has found broad application in the imaging of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. A common way of analyzing DCE MRI images is to look at the shape of the time-intensity curve (TIC) in pixels selected after drawing an ROI in a highly enhanced area. Although often applied to a number of MSK affections, shape analysis has so far not led to a unanimous correlation between these TIC patterns and pathology. We hypothesize that this might be a result of the subjective ROI approach. To overcome the shortcomings of the ROI approach (sampling error and interuser variability, among others), we created a method for a fast and simple classification of DCE MRI where time-curve enhancement shapes are classified pixel by pixel according to their shape. The result of the analysis is rendered in multislice, 2D color-coded images. With this approach, we show not only that differences on a short distance range of the TIC patterns are significant and cannot be appreciated with a conventional ROI analysis but also that the information that shape maps and conventional standard DCE MRI parameter maps convey are substantially different.
Lavini
Cristina
C
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.lavin@amc.uva.nl
de Jonge
Milko C
MC
van de Sande
Marleen G H
MG
Tak
Paul P
PP
Nederveen
Aart J
AJ
Maas
Mario
M
D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA