Abstract:BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The role of DCE-MR imaging in the study of bone marrow perfusion is only partially developed, though potential applications for routine use in the clinical setting are beginning to be described. We hypothesize that DCE-MR imaging can be used to discriminate between hypervascular and hypovascular metastases based on measured perfusion variables.
“…Although diffusionweighted imaging and dynamic-enhanced T1-weighted imaging were reported to be useful for the differential diagnosis of spinal lesions [27][28][29], some contraindications and a high expense may limit a clinical use of MRI. At present, ssDECT is not suitable as a modality of first choice for the diagnosis of vertebral metastases due to the need of radiation exposure and special equipment.…”
“…Although diffusionweighted imaging and dynamic-enhanced T1-weighted imaging were reported to be useful for the differential diagnosis of spinal lesions [27][28][29], some contraindications and a high expense may limit a clinical use of MRI. At present, ssDECT is not suitable as a modality of first choice for the diagnosis of vertebral metastases due to the need of radiation exposure and special equipment.…”
“…These quantitative parameters have demonstrated their value in detecting the differences in microvascular environment among metastatic lesions before and after treatment 9 , benign and pathological fractures 10 , and hypovascular and hypervascular lesions. 11,12 Vertebral metastases demonstrate very different histological patterns depending on the primary tumor. There is, however, a common feature in all of them: neoangiogenesis.…”
Background and Purpose
Vertebral hemangiomas are benign vascular lesions that are almost always incidentally found in the spine. Their classic typical hyperintense appearance on T1- and T2-weighted MR images is diagnostic. Unfortunately, not all hemangiomas have the typical appearance and can mimic metastases on routine MRI. These are generally referred to as atypical hemangiomas and can result in misdiagnosis and ultimately to additional imaging, biopsy and unnecessary costs. Our objective is to assess the utility of DCE-MRI perfusion in distinguishing vertebral atypical hemangiomas and malignant vertebral metastases. We hypothesize that permeability and vascular density will be increased in metastases compared to atypical hemangiomas.
Materials and Methods
Consecutive patients from 2011-2015 with confirmed diagnoses of atypical hemangiomas and spinal metastases from breast and lung carcinoma with available DCE-MRI were analyzed. Time-intensity curves were qualitatively compared among the groups. Perfusion parameters, plasma volume (Vp) and permeability constant (Ktrans), were quantified using an extended Toft’s two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Statistical significance was tested using Mann-Whitney U test.
Results
Qualitative inspection of DCE-MRI time-intensity curves demonstrated differences in signal intensity and morphology, between metastases and atypical hemangiomas. Quantitative analysis of Vp and Ktrans perfusion parameters showed a significantly higher values in metastatic lesions when compared to atypical hemangiomas (p<0.001).
Conclusions
Our data demonstrate that Vp and Ktrans perfusion parameters and qualitative inspection of contrast enhancement curves can be used to differentiate atypical hemangiomas from vertebral metastatic lesions. This works highlights the benefits of adding perfusion maps to conventional sequences that can improve diagnostic accuracy.
“…17 In particular, DCE-MRI’s ability to distinguish between benign and malignant marrow lesions of the vertebral and appendicular skeleton is notable. 18–21 Furthermore, perfusion imaging has been shown to be adept in monitoring the response to radiotherapy of tumors in spinal bone metastases. 22 A recent study has shown that the semi-quantitative metrics extracted from DCE-MRI can differentiate between hypervascular and hypovascular metastatic lesions of the spine.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…22 A recent study has shown that the semi-quantitative metrics extracted from DCE-MRI can differentiate between hypervascular and hypovascular metastatic lesions of the spine. 18 Our aim in this study was to evaluate spinal metastases from RCC and PC using the T1 DCE-MRI perfusion technique and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of perfusion parameters obtained by both quantitative (derived from pharmacokinetic modeling) and semi-quantitative methods, which would allow for noninvasive discrimination between hypovascular and hypervascular spinal metastases. We hypothesized that the values for perfusion parameters will be higher for metastases originating from RCC than from PC, given that the primary source of metastatic RCC lesions confers a hypervascular pattern.…”
Study Design
Total of 40 patients with spinal metastases from renal cell carcinomas (RCC) or prostate carcinomas (PC) were studied using DCE (Dynamic contrast-enhanced) MRI.
Objective
Our aim was to evaluate spinal metastases from RCC and PC to assess the sensitivity and specificity of perfusion parameters obtained by quantitative and semi-quantitative methods, which would allow for noninvasive discrimination between hypovascular and hypervascular lesions.
Summary of Background Data
Conventional MRI can be inconclusive in assessing diagnostically complex spinal lesions in cancer patients in whom fibrosis, infarction, edema related to compression fractures, and infection may simulate malignant neoplasm. Conventional MRI is also of limited value in assessing tumor vascularity and identifying hypervascular tumors. DCE MRI offers an advantage over conventional MRI in that it provides anatomical, physiological, and hemodynamic information about neoplastic lesions.
Methods
DCE perfusion parameters: vascular permeability (Ktrans), plasma volume (Vp), wash-in slope, and peak-enhancement were measured to assess their potential as discriminators of tumor vascularity. A Mann-Whitney test (at p≤0.01), was performed to quantify and compare significance of perfusion parameters between the two groups.
Results
Of the four perfusion parameters studied, Vp was observed to have the largest difference in mean (µ) between PC (µ=3.29/sec) and RCC metastases (µ=5.92/sec). This was followed by the peak-enhancement, Ktrans, and wash-in parameters. A Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference between Vp values for PC and RCC lesions (p≤0.001). Similarly, peak-enhancement showed a significant difference between the two histologies (p≤0.001), as did Ktrans (p≤0.01). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that Vp recorded the highest area under the curve (0.867).
Conclusion
Vp was shown to be the best discriminator between spinal metastases from PC and RCC with the mean Vp of RCC metastasis being 1.8 times that of the PC lesions, thus discriminating between hyper- and hypovascular metastases, which has important clinical implications.
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