Yoshiharu Ohno MD, PhD, Presenter: Research Grant, Toshiba Corporation Research Grant, Koninklijke Philips NV Research Grant, Bayer AG Research Grant, DAIICHI SANKYO Group Research Grant, Eisai Co, Ltd Research Grant, Terumo Corporation Research Grant, Fuji Yakuhin Co, Ltd Research Grant, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation Research Grant, Guerbet SA

Masao Yui, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Toshiba Corporation

Cheng Ouyang, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Toshiba Corporation

Mitsue Miyazaki PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Toshiba Corporation

Mizuho Nishio MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Toshiba Corporation

Hisanobu Koyama MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shinichiro Seki, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Takeshi Yoshikawa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Toshiba Corporation

Sumiaki Matsumoto MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Toshiba Corporation

Yu Ueda PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Katsusuke Kyotani RT, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kazuhiro Kubo RT, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kazuro Sugimura MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, Toshiba Corporation Research Grant, Koninklijke Philips NV Research Grant, Bayer AG Research Grant, Eisai Co, Ltd Research Grant, DAIICHI SANKYO Group

Amide proton transfer (APT) imaging is one of the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging methods, and demonstrates the exchange between protons of free tissue water and the protons of amide groups (-NH) of endogenous proteins and peptides. In addition, APT is considered as one of the MR-based molecular imaging methods, and suggested as having the capability for tumor grade evaluation and/ or biological behavior assessment. The purpose of this study was to determine the capability of APT imaging for characterization of thoracic nodule and mass, and determine a potential as a new MR-based molecular imaging method in thoracic oncology.

Seventeen consecutive patients (13 men and 4 women; mean age 68 years) underwent APT imaging at a 3.0T MR system and pathological and/or follow-up examinations. According to final diagnoses, all thoracic lesions were divided as follows: malignancy (6 adenocarcinomas, 4 squamous cell carcinomas and 2 lymphomas) and benign (3 organizing pneumonias, 1 leiomyoma, 1 simple thymoma) groups. To obtain APT imaging data in each subject, respiratory-synchronized fast advanced spin-echo images were conducted following a series of magnetization transfer (MT) pulses. Then, magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) was calculated from z-spectra in each pixel, and MTRasym map was computationally generated. To evaluate the capability for characterization of thoracic lesion, MTRasyms assessed by ROI measurements were compared between benign and malignant groups, between lung cancers and lymphomas, and between adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas by Student’s t-test.

MTRasym of malignant group (3.3±2.7 %) was significantly higher than that of benign group (0.3±0.3 %, p=0.03). MTRasym of lymphoma (8.0±3.9 %) showed significantly higher than that of lung cancer (2.3±1.2 %, p=0.001). MTRasym of adenocarcinoma (2.9±1.2 %) was significantly higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma (1.4±0.2 %, p=0.04).

APT imaging has a potential for non-invasive characterization of thoracic nodule and mass, and play as a new MR-based molecular imaging method in thoracic oncology.

APT imaging has a potential for non-invasive characterization of thoracic nodule and mass, and play as a new MR-based molecular imaging method in thoracic oncology.

Ohno, Y, Yui, M, Ouyang, C, Miyazaki, M, Nishio, M, Koyama, H, Seki, S, Yoshikawa, T, Matsumoto, S, Ueda, Y, Kyotani, K, Kubo, K, Sugimura, K, Amide Proton Transfer (APT) Imaging for Characterization of Thoracic Nodule and Mass: Preliminary Experience as a New MR-Based Molecular Imaging Method in Thoracic Oncology  [ MI Scavenger Hunt! ].  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14006576.html