Assessment of the vascularity of uterine leiomyomas using double-echo dynamic perfusion-weighted MRI with the first-pass pharmacokinetic model: correlation with histopathology

Invest Radiol. 2007 Sep;42(9):629-35. doi: 10.1097/RLI.0b013e318059ae69.

Abstract

Objectives: To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility of perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI) in uterine leiomyomas.

Materials and methods: : Eighteen uterine leiomyomas in 15 patients were evaluated. PWI was performed using a double-echo T2*-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition sequence, and the first-pass pharmacokinetic model was applied to calculate relative blood volume (rBV). Histopathologic analysis was performed to measure vascular area (VA).

Results: PWI was successful in 13 of 15 patients. On quantitative analysis, mean (+/-SD) rBV calculated from PWI was 0.17 +/- 0.13 (range, 0.06-0.55), whereas mean VA was 3.3% +/- 1.6% (range, 1.7-8.5%). A significant correlation was identified between rBV and VA (r = 0.87, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The rBV determined at PWI correlates with histologic vascular area in uterine leiomyomas.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Computer Simulation
  • Contrast Media / pharmacokinetics
  • Echo-Planar Imaging / methods*
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA / pharmacokinetics*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Leiomyoma / blood supply
  • Leiomyoma / diagnosis*
  • Leiomyoma / metabolism*
  • Leiomyoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / diagnosis*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Perfusion
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Uterine Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA