title: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of gastric cancer: Correlation of the perfusion parameters with pathological prognostic factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of dynamic, contrast-enhanced, magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for perfusion quantification of gastric cancers, and to correlate the DCE-MRI parameters with the pathological prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Twenty-seven patients with gastric cancers underwent DCE-MRI using a free-breathing, radial, gradient-echo (GRE) sequence with k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) reconstruction on a 3T scanner. The DCE-MRI parameters (volume transfer coefficient [K(trans) ], reverse reflux rate constant [Kep ], extracellular extravascular volume fraction [Ve ], and initial area under the gadolinium concentration curve during the first 60 seconds [iAUC]) of gastric cancer and normal wall were measured and compared with each other using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The relationship between the DCE-MRI parameters of gastric cancer and the pathological prognostic factors were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney test or the Spearman rank correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DCE-MRIs were of diagnostic quality in 22 patients (81.5%). Ve and iAUC were significantly higher in gastric cancer than in normal gastric wall (P < 0.05). Ve showed significant positive correlation with T-staging of gastric cancers (P < 0.05). K(trans) was significantly correlated with the grades of epidermal growth-factor receptor expression (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCE-MRI using a radial GRE with KWIC reconstruction is feasible for quantification of the perfusion dynamics of gastric cancers, and the DCE-MRI parameters of gastric cancers may provide prognostic information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ijin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Kwang
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Ihn
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: DCE-MRI; gastric cancer; perfusion