Quantitative correlation between 1H MRS and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of human breast cancer

Abstract

Proton MR spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging provide functional information, including vascular volume, vascular permeability, and choline (Cho) metabolism. In this study, we applied these two imaging modalities to quantitatively characterize 36 malignant breast lesions in 32 patients and analyzed the correlation between them. The Cho concentration was quantified by single-voxel 1 H MRS using water as an internal reference. The measured Cho levels ranged from 0.32 to 10.47 mmol/kg, consistent with previously reported values. In 25 mass type lesions, the Cho concentration was significantly correlated with tumor size (r = 0.69, p < 0.0002). In addition, the Cho level was found to be significantly higher in lesions presenting as mass type lesions compared to non-mass type diffuse enhancements (p = 0.035). The enhancement kinetics from tissues covered within each MRS voxel were measured and analyzed with a 2-compartmental model to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters K trans and k ep . A significant correlation was found between the Cho level and pharmacokinetic parameter k ep (r = 0.62, p < 0.0001), indicating that tissues with a high Cho level have higher wash-out rates in DCE MR imaging. The results suggest a correlation between choline metabolism and angiogenesis activity, which might be explained by the association of Cho with cell replication and angiogenesis required to support tumor growth.

Radiological Findings of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: Review

“…It was sup po sed to be ba sed on two fac tors; firstly Cho is as so ci a ted with ac ti ve cell rep li ca ti on, and se condly tu mor growth re qu i res ac ti ve an gi o ge ne sis, re sul ting in le aky im ma tu re ves sels (e.g., with wi de en dot he li al junc ti ons). 17 Cho pe ak is not se en in bre ast abs cesses. 18 Alt hough IGM le si ons de mons tra te res tric ted dif fu si on mi mic king ma lig nancy, Cho pe ak is not en co un tered (Fi gu re 11).…”

Choline by magnetic spectroscopy and dynamic contrast enhancement curve by magnetic resonance imaging in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer

“…Enhancement curves by dynamic MRI (DMRI) are known to be useful for detecting or monitoring breast cancer (4,12,13). In addition to MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is becoming increasingly attractive for the detection or monitoring of breast cancer (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). MRS detects elevated levels of cholinecontaining compounds in breast cancer tissue, which yield a signal at a chemical shift of 3.2 ppm (25).…”

Combined DCE‐MRI and single‐voxel 2D MRS for differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions

“…Several chemical resonances contribute to this observed peak, including phosphocholine (3.21 ppm), glycerophosphocholine (3.22 ppm), and free choline (3.19 ppm), as well as contributions from taurine (3.25 ppm), myo-inositol (3.27 ppm), phosphoethanolamine (3.23 ppm), and glucose (3.42 ppm) (10). The feasibility of combined applications of DCE-MRI and 1D MRS has been examined to determine the diagnostic improvement for breast cancer detection in several studies, which suggest MRS may be a promising technique when DCE-MRI alone cannot make a differential diagnosis (14)(15)(16)(17).…”