Heterogeneous Enhancement Pattern in DCE-MRI Reveals the Morphology of Normal Lymph Nodes: An Experimental Study
In: Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, 2019
Online
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Zugriff:
Purpose. To investigate the heterogeneous enhancement pattern in normal lymph nodes of healthy mice by different albumin-binding contrast agents. Methods. The enhancement of normal lymph nodes was assessed in mice by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) after the administration of two contrast agents characterized by different albumin-binding properties: gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) and gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). To take into account potential heterogeneities of the contrast uptake in the lymph nodes, k-means cluster analysis was performed on DCE-MRI data. Cluster spatial distribution was visually assessed. Statistical comparison among clusters and contrast agents was performed on semiquantitative parameters (AUC, wash-in rate, and wash-out rate) and on the relative size of the segmented clusters. Results. Cluster analysis of DCE-MRI data revealed at least two main clusters, localized in the outer portion and in the inner portion of each lymph node. With both contrast agents, AUC (p<0.01) and wash-in (p<0.05) rates were greater in the inner cluster, which also showed a steeper wash-out rate than the outer cluster (Gd-BOPTA, p<0.01; Gd-DTPA, p=0.056). The size of the outer cluster was greater than that of the inner cluster by Gd-DTPA (p<0.05) and Gd-BOPTA (p<0.01). The enhancement pattern of Gd-DTPA was not significantly different from the enhancement pattern of Gd-BOPTA. Conclusion. DCE-MRI in normal lymph nodes shows a characteristic heterogeneous pattern, discriminating the periphery and the central portion of the lymph nodes. Such a pattern deserves to be investigated as a diagnostic marker for lymph node staging.
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Heterogeneous Enhancement Pattern in DCE-MRI Reveals the Morphology of Normal Lymph Nodes: An Experimental Study
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Marzola, Pasquina ; Conti, Giamaica ; Busato, Alice ; Sabino Walter Della Sala ; Bontempi, Pietro ; Farace, Paolo |
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Zeitschrift: | Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging, 2019 |
Veröffentlichung: | Hindawi, 2019 |
Medientyp: | unknown |
ISSN: | 1555-4309 (print) |
DOI: | 10.1155/2019/4096706 |
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