Abstract #2798

Time-To-Peak and Spherical Shape Index from Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI as Combined Predictors of Tumor Malignancy

Fang Liu^1,2, Anat Kornecki³, Olga Shmuilovich³, Neil Gelman^1,2

¹Lawson Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; ²Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; ³Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Joseph's Health Center, London, Ontario, Canada

Most previous quantitative studies using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI of the breast have analyzed either signal time evolution features or morphological features as predictors of malignancy. However, combined use of both types of features should provide stronger predictors. In this study, a time evolution feature (time to peak (TTP)) and a 3D morphological feature (spherical shape index (SSI)), both obtained from tumor regions segmented automatically with K-means clustering, were investigated as independent and combined predictors of malignancy. Results suggest that the combination provides stronger discrimination of malignant versus benign lesions than either feature alone.