MRIW - PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS SOFTWARE FOR CONTRAST-ENHANCED DYNAMIC MR-IMAGING IN CANCER

A software package called the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Workbench has been developed to characterize contrast agent uptake in vivo followin g T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with qualitative analysi s of changes in signal intensity or quantitative analysis of changes i n contrast agent concentration over time. Various descriptors may be c alculated from the analysis of dynamic contrast agent-enhanced MR stud ies and visualized as false-color overlays, which allow the immediate display and interpretation of information taken from a series of image s acquired over time, Qualitative descriptors include onset of enhance ment, initial gradient, mean gradient, maximum enhancement, and washou t, These parameters can be particularly useful in the investigation of multifocal or widespread disease, Quantitative descriptors include ca pillary permeability-surface area product, extracellular volume, and T 1 and may be used to monitor changes in the disease state and to asses s the efficacy of treatment, In addition, they allow comparison of dat a obtained from different patients, from independent MR studies, or fr om studies performed with different modalities, Analysis of contrast e nhancement during MR imaging in terms of such qualitative or quantitat ive parameters is a promising new method of data analysis in radiology .