Magnetic Resonance Arterial Spin Tagging for Noninvasive Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Breast Cancer
Abstract
This project is designed to develop and evaluate arterial spin tagging techniques for the non-invasive measurement of breast tissue perfusion. The long term goal is to show that arterial spin tagging can provide comparable tissue information as that currently obtained using dynamic first-pass contrast enhanced imaging. To date, the research effort has focused on the pulse sequence, protocol and image processing software needed for analysis and visualization of the anatomic, functional, and dynamic breast images. Specific tests and analyses of the sequence have been performed to understand and correct for driven equilibrium effects, and for inversion and excitation slice profile mismatch. Software development includes methods for estimating, at each pixel, the T1, the perfusion (as defined byflA), and standard errors, and from these compute a "suspicion index" that the tissue is abnormal. Algorithms for image registration and image display have been developed to allow direct comparison of high resolution T1, first spin echo T2 and proton density, perfusion, and contrast enhanced images. The research effort provides crucial software for acquisition and definitive review of the images, and automation for detailed and thorough statistical analysis of the very large data sets that are obtained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADB248332
Entities
People
- Michael H. Buonocore
Organizations
- University of California