title: Capillary permeability and extracellular volume fraction in uterine cervical cancer as patient outcome predictors: measurements by using dynamic MRI spin-lattice relaxometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve the outcome prediction of uterine cervical carcinoma by measuring the vascular permeability (k(ep)) and the extracellular volume fraction (v(e)) of the tumor from Dynamic T(1)- IRM Relaxometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with proven cervical carcinoma were divided into good outcome and poor outcome groups. Classic tumor prognostic factors, the longest diameter L and the volume V of the tumor, were measured from morphologic MR images. The tumor parameters k(ep) and v(e) were determined from the relaxometry time-curve acquired during the contrast uptake after a bolus intravenous injection of an extracellular contrast agent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All "small" tumors (L<35 mm or V<11 cm(3)) were good outcome with 100% sensitivity but a rather low specificity (36% and 43% for L and V, respectively). With regard to the physiopathological parameter k(ep), "large" tumors (L >or= 35 mm) can also be classified as good outcome on the condition that k(ep) >or= 2.2 min(-1) with 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity. Regarding the extracellular volume fraction (v(e)), no significant difference was observed between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of the tumor vascular permeability might be useful to predict prognostic, to evaluate the treatment efficacy, and to adapt a proper therapy schedule.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics, Department of Centre J. Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand, France. veronique.dedieu@cjp.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dedieu
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Achard
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Bouedec
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Penault-Llorca
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verrelle
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vincensini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D047368:Tumor Burden; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA