Diffusion and perfusion of the breast

This article is a review of the current published clinical applications of DWI and perfusion of breast MR explaining possibilities and limits of both techniques.DWI in a fast time acquisition and without contrast medium gives information as regards cellularity of breast lesions. The technique can be used for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions and monitoring therapies in locally advanced breast cancer.Perfusion can give additional information as regards vascularization of breast lesions, useful in the characterization of breast lesions doubt at DCE-MRI and also in monitoring chemotherapic effect.     

Diffusion and perfusion of the kidney

MRI of the kidney currently makes the transition from depiction of morphology to assessment of function. Functional renal imaging methods provide information on diffusion and perfusion on a microstructural level. This review article presents the current status of functional renal imaging with focus on DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging) and DCE-MRI (dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI), as well as BOLD (blood-oxygenation level dependent) MRI, DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). Technical background of these techniques is explained and clinical assessment of renal function, parenchymal disease, transplant function and solid masses is discussed.     

Diffusion and perfusion of the breast

This article is a review of the current published clinical applications of DWI and perfusion of breast MR explaining possibilities and limits of both techniques.DWI in a fast time acquisition and without contrast medium gives information as regards cellularity of breast lesions. The technique can be used for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions and monitoring therapies in locally advanced breast cancer.Perfusion can give additional information as regards vascularization of breast lesions, useful in the characterization of breast lesions doubt at DCE-MRI and also in monitoring chemotherapic effect.     

Diffusion and perfusion imaging of the liver

MRI of the liver is an important tool for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions, for assessment of tumor response to treatment, and for the evaluation of diffuse liver disease. With recent advances in technology, functional MRI methods such as diffusion-weighted (DW) and perfusion-weighted (PW)-MRI are increasingly used in the abdomen with promising results, particularly in the evaluation of diffuse and focal liver diseases. In this review, we will discuss background, technical considerations, acquisition, applications, limitations and future applications of DW-MRI and PW-MRI applied in evaluation of diffuse and focal liver diseases.     

Diffusion and perfusion MRI of the lung and mediastinum

With ongoing technical improvements such as multichannel MRI, systems with powerful gradients as well as the development of innovative pulse sequence techniques implementing parallel imaging, MRI has now entered the stage of a radiation-free alternative to computed tomography (CT) for chest imaging in clinical practice. Whereas in the past MRI of the lung was focused on morphological aspects, current MRI techniques also enable functional imaging of the lung allowing for a comprehensive assessment of lung disease in a single MRI exam.Perfusion imaging can be used for the visualization of regional pulmonary perfusion in patients with different lung diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease, pulmonary embolism or for the prediction of postoperative lung function in lung cancer patients. Over the past years diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) of the thorax has become feasible with a significant reduction of the acquisition time, thus minimizing artifacts from respiratory and cardiac motion. In chest imaging, DW-MRI has been mainly suggested for the characterization of lung cancer, lymph nodes and pulmonary metastases.In this review article recent MR perfusion and diffusion techniques of the lung and mediastinum as well as their clinical applications are reviewed.     

Diffusion and perfusion imaging of bone marrow

In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), the observed MRI signal intensity is attenuated by the self-diffusion of water molecules. DWI provides information about the microscopic structure and organization of a biological tissue, since the extent and orientation of molecular motion is influenced by these tissue properties.The most common method to measure perfusion in the body using MRI is T1-weighted dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE-MRI). The analysis of DCE-MRI data allows determining the perfusion and permeability of a biological tissue. DWI as well as DCE-MRI are established techniques in MRI of the brain, while significantly fewer studies have been published in body imaging.In recent years, both techniques have been applied successfully in healthy bone marrow as well as for the characterization of bone marrow alterations or lesions; e.g., DWI has been used in particular for the differentiation of benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures.In this review article, firstly a short introduction to diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is given. Non-quantitative and quantitative approaches for the analysis of DWI and semiquantitative and quantitative approaches for the analysis of DCE-MRI are introduced. Afterwards a detailed overview of the results of both techniques in healthy bone marrow and their applications for the diagnosis of various bone-marrow pathologies, like osteoporosis, bone tumors, and vertebral compression fractures are described.     

Diffusion and perfusion MRI: basic physics

Diffusion and perfusion MR imaging are now being used increasingly in neuro-vascular clinical applications. While diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging exploits the translational mobility of water molecules to obtain information on the microscopic behaviour of the tissues (presence of macromolecules, presence and permeability of membranes, equilibrium intracellular-extracellular water, ellipsis), perfusion weighted imaging makes use of endogenous and exogenous tracers for monitoring their hemodynamic status. The combination of both techniques is extremely promising for the early detection and assessment of stroke, for tumor characterisation and for the evaluation of neurodegenerative diseases. This article provides a brief review of the basic physics principles underlying the methodologies followed.     

Diffusion and perfusion MR imaging in stroke

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in stroke makes it possible to visualize the initial infarct in cases of acute cerebral ischemia. Perfusion MRI serves to determine which tissues are additionally at risk of infarction due to persistent hypoperfusion. MRI also allows those examiners with limited experience to reliably confirm an infarct. The most important differential diagnosis of cerebral ischemia, intracerebral hemorrhage, can likewise be recognized with certainty using MRI. Although diffusion and perfusion MRI only demonstrate the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia approximately, the method is suited for identifying those patients who would profit from reperfusion therapy. Whether MRI is also appropriate as an aid to reaching a prognosis on the risk of secondary hemorrhage has not yet been resolved.     

Diffusion and perfusion in high resolution NMR imaging and microscopy

Diffusion and perfusion phenomena under strong gradient fields (approximately 100 G/cm) are examined in high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and microscopy, where diffusion-associated signal attenuation predominates over T1 and T2 relaxation decays. Image contrast based on the diffusion and microcirculation is discussed with experimental results obtained with a 7.0-T microscopy system. Ultimate resolution limit due to diffusion is investigated in high resolution NMR imaging and microscopy.     

Diffusion and perfusion MRI for the localisation of epileptogenic foci in drug-resistant epilepsy

Drug-resistant epilepsy is an important clinical challenge, both diagnostically and therapeutically. More and more surgical options are being considered, but precise presurgical assessment is necessary. We prospectively studied eight patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, who underwent clinical examination, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and interictal MRI, including diffusion- and perfusion-weighted echoplanar sequences. Lesions suspected on SPECT of being epileptogenic showed mild hypoperfusion, while the diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) revealed increased apparent diffusion coefficients relative to the other side. However, these abnormalities were not visible on the corresponding maps. We showed that DWI and perfusion-weighted MRI could be used confirm the characteristics and site of an epileptogenic area in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.     

Diffusion/perfusion MR imaging of acute cerebral ischemia

In vivo echo-planar MR imaging was used to measure apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of cerebral tissues in a comprehensive noninvasive evaluation of early ischemic brain damage induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in a cat model of acute regional stroke. Within 10 min after arterial occlusion, ADC was significantly lower in tissues within the vascular territory of the occluded MCA than in normally perfused tissues in the contralateral hemisphere. Sequential echo-planar imaging was then used in conjunction with bolus injections of the magnetic susceptibility contrast agent, dysprosium DTPA-BMA, to characterize the underlying cerebrovascular perfusion deficits. Normally perfused regions of brain were identified by a dose-dependent 35-70% loss of signal intensity within 6-8 s of contrast administration, whereas ischemic regions appeared relatively hyperintense. These data indicate that sequential diffusion/perfusion imaging may be useful in differentiating permanently damaged from reversibly ischemic brain tissue.     

Diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging of the evolution of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in the neonatal rabbit

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) can result from neonatal asphyxia, the pathophysiology of which is poorly understood. We studied the acute evolution of this disease, using magnetic resonance imaging in an established animal model. HIE was induced in neonatal rabbits by a combination of common carotid artery (CCA) ligation and hypoxia. Serial diffusion and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired before, during, and after the hypoxic interval. Focal areas of decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were detected initially in the cortex ipsilateral to CCA ligation within 62 ± 48 min from the onset of hypoxia. Subsequently, these areas of decreased ADC spread to the subcortical white matter, basal ganglia (ipsilateral side), and then to the contralateral side. Corresponding perfusion-weighted images showed relative cerebral blood volume deficits which closely matched those regions of ADC change. Our results show that MRI diffusion and perfusion-weighted imaging can detect acute cell swelling post-hypoxia in this HIE model.     

Diffusion and perfusion correlates of the 18F-MISO PET lesion in acute stroke: pilot study

Purpose

Mapping the ischaemic penumbra in acute stroke is of considerable clinical interest. For this purpose, mapping tissue hypoxia with ¹⁸F-misonidazole (FMISO) PET is attractive, and is straightforward compared to ¹⁵O PET. Given the current emphasis on penumbra imaging using diffusion/perfusion MR or CT perfusion, investigating the relationships between FMISO uptake and abnormalities with these modalities is important.

Methods

According to a prospective design, three patients (age 54–81 years; admission NIH stroke scale scores 16–22) with an anterior circulation stroke and extensive penumbra on CT- or MR-based perfusion imaging successfully completed FMISO PET, diffusion-weighted imaging and MR angiography 6–26 h after stroke onset, and follow-up FLAIR to map the final infarction. All had persistent proximal occlusion and a poor outcome despite thrombolysis. Significant FMISO trapping was defined voxel-wise relative to ten age-matched controls and mapped onto coregistered maps of the penumbra and irreversibly damaged ischaemic core.

Results

FMISO trapping was present in all patients (volume range 18–119 ml) and overlapped mainly with the penumbra but also with the core in each patient. There was a significant (p?≤?0.001) correlation in the expected direction between FMISO uptake and perfusion, with a sharp FMISO uptake bend around the expected penumbra threshold.

Conclusion

FMISO uptake had the expected overlap with the penumbra and relationship with local perfusion. However, consistent with recent animal data, our study suggests FMISO trapping may not be specific to the penumbra. If confirmed in larger samples, this preliminary finding would have potential implications for the clinical application of FMISO PET in acute ischaemic stroke.     

扩散和灌注加权成像对兔脑缺血半暗带的量化

目的:探讨磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)和灌注加权成像(PWI)在对被挽救缺血半暗带(IP)评价中的价值。方法:将制作成功的58只兔大脑中动脉闭塞(MCAO)模型随机分为永久缺血组(A组)和缺血再灌注组(B组);A组再按缺血1、3、6、12、24、48 h分组(A_1～6组),B组再按缺血1h后再灌注0、2、5、11、23、47h分组(B_(1～6)组)。然后,对各组行I)WI和PWI检查。结果:缺血再灌注组DWI像上异常信号区面积明显小于永久缺血组;缺血24h,梗死范围基本稳定。缺血1h,当表观扩散系数(ADC)比值、相对脑血容量(rCBV)比值和相对平均通过时间(rMTT)比值分别为(73.40±4.33)%、(46.83±9.89)%、1.58±0.04时,该区可能为IP;当ADC比值和rCBV比值分别低于(58.83±6.06)%和(22.87±8.19)%、rMTT比值大于1.94±0.1时,缺血脑组织将会发生不可逆性坏死。结论:DWI结合PWI能够快速、有效地评价IP。     

Effects of respiratory cycle and body position on quantitative pulmonary perfusion by MRI

Purpose:

To evaluate the performance of lung perfusion imaging using two‐dimensional (2D) first pass perfusion MRI and a quantitation program based on model‐independent deconvolution algorithm.

Materials and Methods:

In eight healthy volunteers 2D first pass lung perfusion was imaged in coronal planes using a partial Fourier saturation recovery stead state free precession (SSFP) technique with a temporal resolution of 160 ms per slice acquisition. The dynamic signal in the lung was measured over time and absolute perfusion calculated based on a model‐independent deconvolution program.

Results:

In the supine position mean pulmonary perfusion was 287 ± 106 mL/min/100 mL during held expiration. It was significantly reduced to 129 ± 68 mL/min/100 mL during held inspiration. Similar differences due to respiration were observed in prone position with lung perfusion much greater during expiration than during inspiration (271 ± 101 versus 99 ± 38 mL/min/100 mL (P < 0.01)). There was a linear increase in pulmonary perfusion from anterior to posterior lung fields in supine position. The perfusion gradient reversed in the prone position with the highest perfusion in anterior lung and the lowest in posterior lung fields.

Conclusion:

Lung perfusion imaging using a 2D saturation recovery SSFP perfusion MRI coupled with a model‐independent deconvolution algorithm demonstrated physiologically consistent dynamic heterogeneity of lung perfusion distribution. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.