Applying mathematical models to dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE MRI) data to perform quantitative tracer kinetic analysis enables the estimation of tissue characteristics such as vascular permeability and the fractional volume of plasma in a tissue. However, it is unclear to what extent modeling assumptions, particularly regarding water exchange between tissue compartments, impacts parameter estimates derived from clinical DCE MRI data. In this work, a new model is developed which includes water exchange effects, termed the water exchange modified two compartment exchange model (WX-2CXM). Two boundaries of this model (the fast and no exchange limits) were used to analyse a clinical DCE MRI bladder cancer dataset. Comparisons with DCE CT, which is not affected by water exchange, suggested that water exchange may have affected estimates of vp, the fractional volume of plasma. Further investigation and simulations led to the development of a DCE MRI protocol which was sensitised to water exchange, in order to further evaluate the water exchange effects found in the bladder cancer dataset. This protocol was tested by imaging the parotid glands in eight healthy volunteers, and confirmed evidence of water exchange effects on vp, as well as flow Fp and the fractional volume of extravascular extracellular space ve. This protocol also enabled preliminary estimates of the water residence times in parotid tissue, however, these estimates had a large variability and require further validation. The work presented in this thesis suggests that, although water exchange effects do not have a large effect on clinical data, the effect is measurable, and may lead to the ability to estimate of tissue water residence times. Results do not support a change in the current practise of neglecting water exchange effects in clinical DCEMRI acquisitions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:529194 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Bains, Lauren Jean |
| Contributors | Naish, Josephine ; Williams, Stephen |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/assessing-the-effects-of-water-exchange-on-quantitative-dynamic-contrast-enhanced-mri(e04de84b-45e2-429f-9fc4-4a76b8f018ec).html |
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