Tumor response assessments with diffusion and perfusion MRI

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Anatomic imaging has limitations in evaluating tumor response to novel oncologic treatments.
• Functional imaging offers insights into tumor biology beyond structural changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) as response assessment tools.
• To discuss the technologies, quantification, validation, and clinical roles of DW-MRI and DCE-MRI.

Main Methods:

• Focus on DW-MRI and DCE-MRI techniques.
• Exploration of quantification methods and validation processes for these functional imaging modalities.
• Review of current applications in assessing response to conventional and novel therapies.

Main Results:

• Functional imaging (DW-MRI, DCE-MRI) can predict therapy response by assessing tumor cellularity and vascularity.
• These changes often precede observable morphologic alterations on standard imaging.

Conclusions:

• DW-MRI and DCE-MRI are valuable for evaluating tumor response to oncologic treatments.
• Challenges remain in integrating these advanced imaging methods into routine clinical practice.