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Updated: May 30, 2026
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of an Orthotopic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2015
Tumoral and nontumoral pancreas: correlation between quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and
Maria A Bali1, Thierry Metens, Vincent Denolin
1Department of Radiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. mbali@ulb.ac.be
Purpose:
To prospectively determine whether dynamic contrast material-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) quantitative parameters correlate with fibrosis and microvascular density (MVD) in malignant and benign solid pancreatic focal lesions and nontumoral pancreatic tissue.
Materials And Methods:
The institutional review board approved the study; written informed consent was obtained. DCE MR was performed in 28 patients with surgically resectable focal pancreatic lesions. DCE MR quantitative parameters derived from one-compartment (OC) (transfer rate constant [K(trans)] and distribution fraction [ƒ]) and two-compartment (TC) (K(trans), tissue volume fraction occupied by extravascular extracellular space [v(i)], and tissue volume fraction occupied by vascular space [v(p)]) pharmacokinetic models were correlated with fibrosis content and MVD counts in focal lesions and nontumoral tissue (Spearman correlation coefficient [SCC]). Pharmacokinetic parameters were compared (Mann-Whitney test) between tumoral and nontumoral tissue. Diagnostic performance of DCE MR fibrosis detection was assessed (receiver operator characteristic curve analysis).
Results:
K(trans) OC and K(trans) TC were significantly lower in primary malignant tumors compared with benign lesions (P = .023) and nontumoral pancreatic tissue downstream (P < .001) and upstream (P = .006); ƒ and v(i) were significantly higher in primary malignant tumors compared with nontumoral pancreatic tissue downstream (P = .012 and .018, respectively). Fibrosis was correlated negatively with K(trans) OC (SCC, -0.600) and K(trans) TC (SCC, -0.564) and positively with ƒ (SCC, 0.514) and v(i) (SCC, 0.464), with P < .001 (all comparisons). MVD was positively correlated with ƒ (SCC, 0.355; P = .019) and v(i) (SCC, 0.297; P = .038) but not with K(trans) OC (SCC, -0.140; P = .33) and K(trans) TC (SCC, -0.194; P = .181). Sensitivity and specificity for fibrosis detection were 65% (24 of 37) and 83% (10 of 12) for K(trans) OC (cutoff value, 0.35 min(-1)) and 76% (28 of 37) and 83% (10 of 12) for K(trans) TC (cutoff value, 0.29 min(-1)), respectively.
Conclusion:
Quantitative DCE MR parameters, derived from pharmacokinetic models in malignant and benign pancreatic solid lesions and nontumoral pancreatic tissue, were significantly correlated with fibrosis and MVD.
Supplemental Material:
http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.11103515/-/DC1.
Insights
Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI quantitative parameters correlate with fibrosis and microvascular density (MVD) in pancreatic lesions. These findings aid in differentiating malignant from benign pancreatic tissue using DCE MRI.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Accurate characterization of pancreatic focal lesions is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers quantitative insights into tissue perfusion and vascularity.
- Correlation of DCE MR parameters with histopathological features like fibrosis and microvascular density (MVD) can enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the correlation between quantitative DCE MR parameters and fibrosis/MVD in malignant and benign pancreatic lesions.
- To assess the utility of DCE MR in differentiating tumoral from nontumoral pancreatic tissue based on these parameters.
Main Methods:
- 28 patients with surgically resectable focal pancreatic lesions underwent DCE MR imaging.
- Quantitative parameters (Ktrans, ƒ, v(i), v(p)) were derived using one-compartment (OC) and two-compartment (TC) pharmacokinetic models.
- Spearman correlation coefficients (SCC) were used to correlate DCE MR parameters with fibrosis content and MVD counts.
Main Results:
- Malignant tumors showed significantly lower Ktrans OC/TC and higher ƒ and v(i) compared to benign lesions and nontumoral tissue.
- Fibrosis negatively correlated with Ktrans (OC/TC) and positively with ƒ and v(i) (all P < .001).
- MVD positively correlated with ƒ and v(i) (P = .019 and P = .038, respectively), but not with Ktrans.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative DCE MR parameters derived from pharmacokinetic models significantly correlate with fibrosis and MVD in pancreatic lesions.
- These quantitative parameters show potential for differentiating malignant from benign pancreatic lesions and assessing tissue characteristics.
