Stefanie Remmele1, Julien Sngas1, Andreas Mller2, Ingobert Wenningmann3, Frank Trber2, Hans Clusmann4, Hannes Dahnke5, Jrgen Gieseke5, Sebastian Flacke2, Winfried A. Willinek2, Hans H. Schild2, Petra Mrtz2
1Philips Research Europe, Hamburg, Germany; 2Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; 3Department of Anesthesiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; 4Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; 5Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany
The dR2* response of a tumor to inhalation of O2- or CO2-enriched air is known to give insight into blood oxygenation and vasoreactivity. This work demonstrates that tumors may differ from normal tissue in the amplitude but also the temporal behavior (delay, velocity) of the response. We further propose an approach to robust dynamic (C)O2-enhanced MR measurement, analysis and depiction of the response in high-resolution vasoreactivity maps. The technique was evaluated in 5 patients with cerebral tumors.