Quantitative 2- and 3-dimensional analysis of pharmacokinetic model-derived variables for breast lesions in dynamic, contrast-enhanced MR mammography.
OBJECTIVE
2- and 3-dimensional evaluation of quantitative pharmacokinetic parameters derived from the Tofts model modeling dynamic contrast enhancement of lesions in MR mammography.


METHODS
In 95 patients, MR mammography revealed 127 suspicious lesions. The initial rate of enhancement was coded by color intensity, the post-initial enhancement change is coded by color hue. 2D and 3D analysis of distribution of color hue and intensity, vascular permeability and extracellular volume were performed.


RESULTS
In 2D, malignant lesions showed significant higher number of bright red, medium red, dark red, bright green, medium green, dark green and bright blue pixels than benign lesions. In 3D, statistical significant differences between malignant and benign lesions was found for all this parameters. Vascular permeability was significant higher in malignant lesions than in benign lesions. Regression model using the 3D data found that the best discriminator between malignant and benign lesions was combined number of voxels and medium green pixels, with a sensitivity of 79.4% and a specificity of 83.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative analysis of pharmacokinetic variables of contrast kinetics showed significant differences between malignant and benign lesions. 3D analysis showed superior diagnostic differentiation between malignant and benign lesions than 2D analysis. The parametric analysis using a pharmacokinetic model allows objective analysis of contrast enhancement in breast lesions.
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany. elke.hauth@uni-essen.de
E A M
EA
Hauth
H J
HJ
Jaeger
S
S
Maderwald
A
A
Muehler
R
R
Kimmig
M
M
Forsting
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA