Quantitative correlation between (1)H MRS and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of human breast cancer.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide functional information, including vascular volume, vascular permeability and choline (Cho) metabolism. In this study, we applied these two imaging modalities to quantitatively characterize 36 malignant breast lesions in 32 patients and analyzed the correlation between them. Cho concentration was quantified by single-voxel (1)H MRS using water as an internal reference. The measured Cho levels ranged from 0.32 to 10.47 mmol/kg, consistent with previously reported values. In 25 mass-type lesions, the Cho concentration was significantly correlated with tumor size (r=.69, P<.0002). In addition, the Cho level was found to be significantly higher in lesions presenting as mass-type lesions compared to non-mass-type diffuse enhancements (P=.035). The enhancement kinetics from tissues covered within each MRS voxel were measured and analyzed with a two-compartmental model to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters K(trans) and k(ep). A significant correlation was found between the Cho level and the pharmacokinetic parameter k(ep) (r=.62, P<.0001), indicating that tissues with a high Cho level have higher wash-out rates in DCE MRI. The results suggest a correlation between Cho metabolism and angiogenesis activity, which might be explained by the association of Cho with cell replication and angiogenesis required to support tumor growth.
John Tu and Thomas Yuen Center for Functional Onco-Imaging, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-5020, USA. hbaek@uci.edu
Hyeon-Man
HM
Baek
Hon J
HJ
Yu
Jeon-Hor
JH
Chen
Orhan
O
Nalcioglu
Min-Ying
MY
Su
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003287:Contrast Media; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D002794:Choline