New Intravascular Contrast Agent Applied to Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Mr imaging of Human Breast Cancer

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) 2003-05, Vol.44 (3), p.275-283
• Main Authors: Rydland, J., BjØrnerud, A., Haugen, O., Torheim, G., Torres, C., Kvistad, K. A., Haraldseth, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: angiogenesis; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - diagnosis; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Dextrans; Feasibility Studies; Female; Ferrosoferric Oxide; Fibroadenoma - diagnosis; Genital system. Mammary gland; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; intravascular contrast agent; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Iron - administration & dosage; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; MR imaging; Oxides - administration & dosage; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Tumors
• ISSN: 0284-1851; 1600-0455
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0455.2003.00068.x

Purpose:  To evaluate the feasibility of using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MR imaging with a new intravascular contrast agent in grading human breast cancer. Material and Methods:  23 patients with 27 breast tumors (21 carcinomas and 6 fibroadenomas) were examined with dynamic MR imaging after administration of Clariscan, an iron oxide nanoparticle with large T1 relaxivity and a long plasma half life. A 3D T1‐weighted gradient echo sequence with an acquisition time of 60 s was repeated at regular intervals of 3–5 min before and up to 1 h after injection of 2 mg/kg b.w. of Clariscan. The endothelial transfer constant, Kps, which reflects overall vascular permeability, and the fractional plasma volume, fPV, were estimated from time‐intensity curves acquired from three separate regions of interest (ROIs): whole tumor, a permeability hot spot, and a blood volume hot spot. Kps and fPV were compared to the results of histologic tumor grading (Scarff‐Bloom‐Richardson, SBR) and microvascular density, MVD. Results:  A statistically significant correlation between the MR‐derived Kps parameters and the SBR score was obtained for the whole tumor ROI (R = 0.70), and for the permeability hot spot ROIs (R = 0.67). A correlation between fPV and SBR was detected for the blood volume hot spot ROIs (R = 0.48). There was no statistically significant correlation between Kps or fPV with MVD. Conclusion:  The results support the hypothesis that dynamic MR with the intravascular contrast agent Clariscan may be used for non‐invasive tumor grading.