Background To investigate vascular-related pathophysiological characteristics of two human lung cancers with modifiable vascularisation using MRI and CT. Methods Tumour xenografts with modifiable vascularisation were established in 71 rats (approval by the Animal Care Committee was obtained) by subcutaneous transplantation of two human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells (A549, H1299) either alone or co-transplanted with vascular growth promoters. The vascularity of the tumours was assessed noninvasively by MRI diffusion-weighted-imaging (DWI), T2-weighted, and time-of-flight (TOF) sequences) as well as contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT), using clinical scanners. As a reference standard, histological examinations (CD-31, fluorescent beads) were done after explantation. Results Microvessel density (MVD) was higher in co-transplanted tumours (171 ± 19 number/mm2) than in non-co-transplanted tumours (111 ± 11 number/mm2; p = 0.002). Co-transplanted tumours showed higher growth rates and larger tumour vessels at TOF-MRI as well as larger necrotic areas at CE-CT. In co-transplanted tumours, DWI revealed higher cellularity (lower minimal ADCdiff 166 ± 15 versus 346 ± 27 mm2/s × 10−6; p < 0.001), highly necrotic areas (higher maximal ADCdiff 1695 ± 65 versus 1320 ± 59 mm2/s × 10−6; p < 0.001), and better-perfused tumour stroma (higher ADCperf 723 ± 36 versus 636 ± 51 mm2/s × 10−6; p = 0.005). Significant correlations were found using qualitative and quantitative parameters: maximal ADCperf and MVD (r = 0.326); maximal ADCdiff and relative necrotic volume on CE-CT (r = 0.551); minimal ADCdiff and MVD (r = −0.395). Conclusions Pathophysiological differences related to vascular supply in two human lung cancer cell lines with modifiable vascularity are quantifiable with clinical imaging techniques. Imaging parameters of vascularisation correlated with the results of histology. DWI was able to characterise both the extent of necrosis and the level of perfusion.

Background To investigate vascular-related pathophysiological characteristics of two human lung cancers with modifiable vascularisation using MRI and CT. Methods Tumour xenografts with modifiable vascularisation were established in 71 rats (approval by the Animal Care Committee was obtained) by subcutaneous transplantation of two human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells (A549, H1299) either alone or co-transplanted with vascular growth promoters. The vascularity of the tumours was assessed noninvasively by MRI diffusion-weighted-imaging (DWI), T2-weighted, and time-of-flight (TOF) sequences) as well as contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT), using clinical scanners. As a reference standard, histological examinations (CD-31, fluorescent beads) were done after explantation. Results Microvessel density (MVD) was higher in co-transplanted tumours (171 ± 19 number/mm2) than in non-co-transplanted tumours (111 ± 11 number/mm2; p = 0.002). Co-transplanted tumours showed higher growth rates and larger tumour vessels at TOF-MRI as well as larger necrotic areas at CE-CT. In co-transplanted tumours, DWI revealed higher cellularity (lower minimal ADCdiff 166 ± 15 versus 346 ± 27 mm2/s × 10−6; p < 0.001), highly necrotic areas (higher maximal ADCdiff 1695 ± 65 versus 1320 ± 59 mm2/s × 10−6; p < 0.001), and better-perfused tumour stroma (higher ADCperf 723 ± 36 versus 636 ± 51 mm2/s × 10−6; p = 0.005). Significant correlations were found using qualitative and quantitative parameters: maximal ADCperf and MVD (r = 0.326); maximal ADCdiff and relative necrotic volume on CE-CT (r = 0.551); minimal ADCdiff and MVD (r = −0.395). Conclusions Pathophysiological differences related to vascular supply in two human lung cancer cell lines with modifiable vascularity are quantifiable with clinical imaging techniques. Imaging parameters of vascularisation correlated with the results of histology. DWI was able to characterise both the extent of necrosis and the level of perfusion.

Objectives: To compare 64-slice contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using Gd-EOB-DTPA for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in this setting. Methods: 3-phase-liver-CT was performed in fifty patients (42 male, 8 female) with suspected or proven HCC. The patients were subjected to a 3-Tesla-MRI-examination with Gd-EOB-DTPA and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) at b-values of 0, 50 and 400 s/mm2. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-value was determined for each lesion detected in DWI. The histopathological report after resection or biopsy of a lesion served as the gold standard, and a surrogate of follow-up or complementary imaging techniques in combination with clinical and paraclinical parameters was used in unresected lesions. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated for each technique. Results: MRI detected slightly more lesions that were considered suspicious for HCC per patient compared to CT (2.7 versus 2.3, respectively). ADC-measurements in HCC showed notably heterogeneous values with a median of 1.2±0.5×10−3 mm2/s (range from 0.07±0.1 to 3.0±0.1×10−3 mm2/s). MRI showed similar diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values compared to CT (AUC 0.837, sensitivity 92%, PPV 80% and NPV 90% for MRI vs. AUC 0.798, sensitivity 85%, PPV 79% and NPV 82% for CT; not significant). Specificity was 75% for both techniques. Conclusions: Our study did not show a statistically significant difference in detection in detection of HCC between MRI and CT. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI tended to detect more lesions per patient compared to contrast-enhanced CT; therefore, we would recommend this modality as the first-choice imaging method for the detection of HCC and therapeutic decisions. However, contrast-enhanced CT was not inferior in our study, so that it can be a useful image modality for follow-up examinations.

Purpose: To investigate if apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within primary central nervous system lymphoma correlate with cellularity and proliferative activity in corresponding histological samples. Materials and Methods: Echo-planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained from 21 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively. Regions of interest were drawn on ADC maps corresponding to the contrast enhancing parts of the tumors. Biopsies from all 21 patients were histologically analyzed. Nuclei count, total nuclei area and average nuclei area were measured. The proliferation index was estimated as Ki-67 positive nuclei divided by total number of nuclei. Correlations of ADC values and histopathologic parameters were determined statistically. Results: Ki-67 staining revealed a statistically significant correlation with ADCmin (r = -0.454, p = 0.038), ADCmean (r = -0.546, p = 0.010) and ADCmax (r = -0.515, p = 0.017). Furthermore, ADCmean correlated in a statistically significant manner with total nucleic area (r = -0.500, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Low ADCmin, ADCmean and ADCmax values reflect a high proliferative activity of primary cental nervous system lymphoma. Low ADCmean values—in concordance with several previously published studies—indicate an increased cellularity within the tumor.

HINTERGRUND/ ZIELSETZUNG: Vom idiopathischen Parkinsonsyndrom (IPS) können so genannte „atypische“ Parkinsonsyndrome (APS) mit einem Anteil von ca. 20% bezogen auf die Gesamtinzidenz unterschieden werden. Neben zusätzlichen Krankheitssymptomen und einem progredienteren Verlauf zeichnen sie sich durch eine schlechtere Prognose aus, die häufig auf einem Nichtansprechen auf eine dopaminerge Therapie beruht. Eine frühzeitige, korrekte Diagnose ist daher sehr entscheidend, aber im Einzelfall auch für Spezialisten äußerst schwierig. Trotz anerkannter klinischer Diagnosekriterien gibt es besonders im Frühstadium eine hohe Rate an Fehldiagnosen. Das zur Zeit vorherrschende Verfahren in der bildgebenden Diagnostik ist die Magnetresonanztomographie, wobei die konventionelle, qualitative MRT bislang keine zufriedenstellenden Ergebnisse bezüglich ihrer Spezifität und Sensitivität gezeigt hat. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht in einer direkten Vergleichsstudie das differenzialdiagnostische Potential der sogenannten „erweiterten“ quantitativen MRT-Verfahren. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: Ein Gesamtkollektiv von insgesamt 44 Probanden (IPS/ APS/ gesunde Kontrollen) durchlief ein umfassendes quantitatives MRT- Protokoll (R1/R2(*)-, DTI-, MTR- Mapping) um in manuell bilateral markierten, definierten Regionen (ROIs) in den Basalganglienkernen quantitative Parameter zu erheben. ERGEBNISSE: Die beste hochsignifikante Trennung der MSA-P- Patienten sowohl von IPS- Patienten (p = 0,001) als auch von Kontrollen (p = 0,004) konnte anhand des R2 * - Mappings im Putamen erreicht werden. Es zeigte sich eine Vorhersagekraft AUC von > / = 0,96 mit einer Sensitivität von 77,8 % (bei einer Spezifität von 100 %). Dies bestätigt die große Bedeutung der Eisensensitivität des R2*-Mappings bei der Identifizierung von MSA-P- Patienten. Auch anhand des MTR-Mappings konnte eine MSA-P anhand der putaminalen (p = 0,005) und nigralen (p = 0,003) Signalveränderungen signifikant vorhergesagt werden. Die beste signifikante Abgrenzung der PSP- Patienten von den Kontrollen gelang anhand der DTI- Messungen in der Substantia nigra (p = 0,001) sowie im Globus pallidus (p = 0,004). Für die diagnostische Vorhersage eines IPS konnten keine nutzbaren Signalunterschiede festgestellt werden. Insbesondere in der Substantia nigra zeigten sich gegenüber Kontrollen keine signifikanten Gruppenunterschiede. FAZIT: Unter den angewandten MRT- Verfahren zeigt das R2*-Mapping die beste Vorhersagekraft zur Differenzierung der MSA von IPS- Patienten und das DTI- Mapping zur Identifizierung der PSP- Patienten. Das Besondere unseres Arbeitsansatzes war, im Gegensatz zu vorherigen Studien, die Durchführung der Untersuchung an nur einer Kohorte. Dadurch konnte die Güte der verschiedenen MRT-Verfahren direkt und quantitativ miteinander verglichen werden. Insgesamt unterstreichen die Erkenntnisse dieser Arbeit den Stellenwert und die mögliche klinische Relevanz der quantitativen MRT, insbesondere bei der Identifizierung atypischer Parkinsonsyndrome.