title: Gaussian process inference for estimating pharmacokinetic parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR images.
abstract: In this paper, we propose a new pharmacokinetic model for parameter estimation of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI by using Gaussian process inference. Our model is based on the Tofts dual-compartment model for the description of tracer kinetics and the observed time series from DCE-MRI is treated as a Gaussian stochastic process. The parameter estimation is done through a maximum likelihood approach and we propose a variant of the coordinate descent method to solve this likelihood maximization problem. The new model was shown to outperform a baseline method on simulated data. Parametric maps generated on prostate DCE data with the new model also provided better enhancement of tumors, lower intensity on false positives, and better boundary delineation when compared with the baseline method. New statistical parameter maps from the process model were also found to be informative, particularly when paired with the PK parameter maps.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Biomarkers and Computer-Aided Diagnosis Laboratory, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bldg 10, Room 1C224, Bethesda, MD 20892-1182, USA. wangshi@cc.nih.gov
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turkbey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choyke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016011:Normal Distribution; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA