Sridhar Vajapeyam PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kelsey Ricci MA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Naira Muradyan PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, iCAD, Inc

Mark Kieran, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tina Young Poussaint MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To study the efficacy and feasibility of automated dynamic contrast enhanced T1 permeability perfusion imaging and advanced imaging metrics in children with suspected pediatric brain tumors.

T1 permeability imaging was performed using T1 mapping with flip angles of 2, 5, 10 and 15°, followed by DCE with 0.1 mmol/kg bw of Gd-based bolus . Data were processed prospectively using automated iCAD OmniLook software (iCAD Inc., Nashua, NH) to generate advanced pharmacokinetic parameters using the Tofts 2-compartment model, allowing voxel-wise calculation of Ktrans (transfer constant from the blood plasma into the extracellular extravascular space, EES), Kep (rate constant from EES back into blood plasma), ve (extravascular extracellular volume fraction), vp( fractional plasma volume) and T1 values.

There were 11 patients, ages 2.6-17 years, mean 10.3 years. New diagnoses included medulloblastoma(2), ependymoma(1), anaplastic ependymoma(1), sarcoma(1), atypical hemangioma(1), pilocytic astrocytoma(1), low grade glioma(2), tumefactive demyelination (initially thought to be tumor-1), and the followup case included recurrent pilocytic astrocytoma(1). 4 patients had supratentorial lesions and the remaining 7 were infratentorial. Pharmacokinetic parameters measured for the cohort were as follows: Ktrans=2.306 ± 4.341(1/min), Kep=10.979 ± 14.292(1/min), ve=0.189 ± 0.082, vp=0.047 ± 0.035 and T1=2.961 ± 0.693sec., with higher permeability values for high grade tumors compared with low grade tumors.

Automated processing of DCE brain permeability perfusion data in children is feasible and provides valuable additional pharmacokinetic metrics useful for assessing tumor grade and ultimately response to therapy.

Advanced DCE T1 perfusion pharmacokinetic metrics help in pediatric brain tumor characterization.

Vajapeyam, S, Ricci, K, Muradyan, N, Kieran, M, Poussaint, T, Automated Processing of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) T1 Permeability Perfusion: Advanced Pharmacokinetic Metrics in Pediatric Brain Tumors.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14010985.html