MR imaging of high-grade brain tumors using endogenous protein and peptide-based contrast.
Amide proton transfer (APT) imaging is a novel MRI technique, in which the amide protons of endogenous proteins and peptides are irradiated to accomplish indirect detection using the bulk water signal. In this paper, the APT approach was added to a standard brain MRI protocol at 3T, and twelve patients with high-grade gliomas confirmed by histopathology were scanned. It is shown that all tumors, including one with minor gadolinium enhancement, showed heterogeneous hyperintensity on the APT images. The average APT signal intensities of the viable tumor cores were significantly higher than those of peritumoral edema and normal-appearing white matter (P<0.001). The average APT signal intensities were significantly lower in the necrotic regions than in the viable tumor cores (P=0.004). The APT signal intensities of the cystic cavities were similar to those of the viable tumor cores (P>0.2). The initial results show that APT imaging at the protein and peptide level may enhance non-invasive identification of tissue heterogeneity in high-grade brain tumors.
Wen
Zhibo
Z
Department of Radiology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. zhibowen@163.com
Hu
Shuguang
S
Huang
Fanheng
F
Wang
Xianlong
X
Guo
Linglang
L
Quan
Xianyue
X
Wang
Silun
S
Zhou
Jinyuan
J
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins