Assessment of tumor microcirculation with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with esophageal cancer: initial experience.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and impact of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) on tumor characterization and response to radiochemotherapy (RCT) in patients with esophageal cancer.


METHODS
A total of 48 patients underwent DCE-MRI to assess tumor microcirculation based on a two-compartment model function. Effects of RCT on kinetic parameters were studied in 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
Tumor microcirculation differs with respect to histological subtype: squamous cell carcinomas showed lower values of amplitude A (leakage space, P = 0.015) and higher contrast agent exchange rates (k(21), P = 0.225) compared with adenocarcinomas. RCT led to a significant decrease of the contrast agent exchange rate (P = 0.005), while amplitude A increased moderately after therapy (P = 0.136).


CONCLUSIONS
DCE-MRI is feasible in patients with esophageal cancer, reveals therapeutic effects, and may thus be useful in therapy management and monitoring.
Oberholzer
Katja
K
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Pohlmann
Andreas
A
Schreiber
Wolfgang
W
Mildenberger
Peter
P
Kunz
Peter
P
Schmidberger
Heinz
H
Junginger
Theodor
T
Düber
Cristoph
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA