Feasibility of FAIR imaging for evaluating tumor perfusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) for measuring blood flow in tumor models.


METHODS
In eight mice tumor models, FAIR and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was performed. The reliability for measuring blood flow on FAIR was evaluated using the coefficient of variation of blood flow on psoas muscle. Three regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn in the peripheral, intermediate, and central portions within each tumor. The location of ROI was the same on FAIR and DCE-MR images. The correlation between the blood flow on FAIR and perfusion-related parameters on DCE-MRI was evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient.


RESULTS
The coefficient of variation for measuring blood flow was 9.8%. Blood flow on FAIR showed a strong correlation with Kep (r = 0.77), percent relative enhancement (r = 0.73), and percent enhancement ratio (r = 0.81). The mean values of blood flow (mL/100 g/min) (358 vs. 207), Kep (sec(-) (1)) (7.46 vs. 1.31), percent relative enhancement (179% vs. 134%), and percent enhancement ratio (42% vs. 26%) were greater in the peripheral portion than in the central portion (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
As blood flow measurement on FAIR is reliable and closely related with that on DCE-MR, FAIR is feasible for measuring tumor blood flow.
Cho
Jee-Hyun
JH
Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute, Chungbuk, Korea.
Cho
Gyunggoo
G
Song
Youngkyu
Y
Lee
Chulhyun
C
Park
Bum-Woo
BW
Lee
Chang Kyung
CK
Kim
Namkug
N
Park
Sung Bin
SB
Kang
Jong Soon
JS
Kang
Moo Rim
MR
Kim
Hwan Mook
HM
Kim
Young Ro
YR
Cho
Kyoung-Sik
KS
Kim
Jeong Kon
JK
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007089:Image Enhancement; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010477:Perfusion; D016658:Psoas Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013113:Spin Labels
D003287:Contrast Media; D013113:Spin Labels; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA