Reproducibility of DCE-MRI time-intensity curve-shape analysis in patients with knee arthritis: A comparison with qualitative and pharmacokinetic analyses.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the between-session reproducibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) combined with time-intensity curve (TIC)-shape analysis in arthritis patients, within one scanner and between two different scanners, and to compare this method with qualitative analysis and pharmacokinetic modeling (PKM).


METHODS
Fifteen knee joint arthritis patients were included and scanned twice on a closed-bore 1.5T scanner (n = 9, group 1), or on a closed-bore 1.5T and on an open-bore 1.0T scanner (n = 6, group 2). DCE-MRI data were postprocessed using in-house developed software ("Dynamo"). Disease activity was assessed.


RESULTS
Disease activity was comparable between the two visits. In group 1 qualitative analysis showed the highest reproducibility with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between 0.78 and 0.98 and root mean square-coefficients of variation (RMS-CoV) of 8.0%-14.9%. TIC-shape analysis showed a slightly lower reproducibility with similar ICCs (0.78-0.97) but higher RMS-CoV (18.3%-42.9%). The PKM analysis showed the lowest reproducibility with ICCs between 0.39 and 0.64 (RMS-CoV 21.5%-51.9%). In group 2 TIC-shape analysis of the two most important TIC-shape types showed the highest reproducibility with ICCs of 0.78 and 0.71 (RMS-CoV 29.8% and 59.4%) and outperformed the reproducibility of the most important qualitative parameter (ICC 0.31, RMS-CoV 45.1%) and the within-scanner reproducibility of PKM analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
TIC-shape analysis is a robust postprocessing method within one scanner, almost as reproducible as the qualitative analysis. Between scanners, the reproducibility of the most important TIC-shapes outperform that of the most important qualitative parameter and the within-scanner reproducibility of PKM analysis.
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Christiaan
C
van der Leij
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Cristina
C
Lavini
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marleen G H
MG
van de Sande
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marjolein J H
MJ
de Hair
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Christophe
C
Wijffels
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mario
M
Maas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
DCE-MRI; Ktrans; TIC-shape; arthritis; knee