Dynamic Contrast Enhancement of Experimental Glioma: An Intra-individual Comparative Study to Assess the Optimal Time Delay

Engelhorn, Tobias; Schwarz, Marc A.; Eyupoglu, Ilker Y.; Kloska, Stephan P.; Struffert, Tobias; Doerfler, Arnd

doi:10.1016/j.acra.2009.08.014

« Previous Next »Academic Radiology
Volume 17, Issue 2 , Pages 188-193, February 2010

Dynamic Contrast Enhancement of Experimental Glioma:

An Intra-individual Comparative Study to Assess the Optimal Time Delay

Tobias Engelhorn, MD
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Address correspondence to: T.E.
Marc A. Schwarz, PhD
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Ilker Y. Eyupoglu, MD
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Stephan P. Kloska, MD
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Tobias Struffert, MD
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Arnd Doerfler, MD
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany

Received 13 July 2009; accepted 14 August 2009. published online 12 November 2009.

Rationale and Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare tumor signal and contrast media uptake characteristics on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences at 3 Tesla over 30 minutes after double-dose administration of different contrast agents in an animal model of brain glioma.

Materials and Methods

Nine rats underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after stereotactic F98 glioma cell implantation before and repetitively for 30 minutes after injection of gadobutrol, gadopentetate, and gadobenate, respectively. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and tumor contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were evaluated and MRI-derived tumor volumes were compared to histology.

Results

Postcontrast tumor SNR and CNR peaked at 4 minutes after contrast application. While contrast-enhancement within the tumor was fading, tumor volume increased by continuous contrast-uptake of peripheral parts between 4 minutes (137 ± 29 mm³, 126 ± 16 mm³, 141 ± 24 mm³) and 20 minutes (182 ± 35 mm³, 164 ± 32 mm³, 191 ± 25 mm³), respectively. At 8 and 12 minutes, 84% and 91% of the tumor volume were definable, respectively.

Conclusion

Optimal correlation between MRI-derived tumor volume and histology is achieved by imaging up to 20 minutes after contrast application. At 4 minutes (this delay is mostly used in clinical routine), only 75% of the enhancing tumor volume is assessable. A delay of 8 minutes already reveals 84% of the tumor and seems to be a practical clinical compromise.

Key Words: Glioma, contrast media, 3 Tesla, MRI, rat