Abstract #4368

A Population-Based AIF for Quantitative DCE-MRI of the Rat Abdomen Acquired Using Dynamic High Temporally and Spatially Resolved CT

Jonas Svensson^1,2, Andreas Steingtter¹, Markus Schwaiger¹, Ernst Rummeny³, Rickmer Braren³

¹Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universitt Mnchen, Munich, Germany; ²Medical Radiation Physics, Malm University Hospital, Lund University, Malm, Sweden; ³Department of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitt Mnchen, Munich, Germany

DCE-MRI can be used for studies of tumor viability. The method requires an arterial input function (AIF) but with current MR techniques it is difficult to acquire an AIF that reliably describe the bolus dynamics in small animals. In this work a high temporal resolution, population-based AIF is acquired using a clinical CT scanner. The AIF is functionally modelled and successfully applied to quantitative DCE-MRI of 11 liver-tumor bearing rats resulting in stable Ktrans and ve values with low inter-animal variations. It is also shown that incorrect estimation of the peak contrast agent concentration could induce large errors in Ktrans.