Detection and quantification of breast tumor necrosis with MR imaging: value of the necrosis-avid contrast agent Gadophrin-3.

Abstract

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES:

The authors evaluated the use of T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with Gadophrin-3 enhancement and of plain T2-weighted MR imaging to detect and quantify breast tumor necrosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Twenty EMT-6 tumors (mouse mammary sarcoma), implanted into the mammary fat pad of BALB/c-AnNCrl mice, underwent MR imaging with plain T2-weighted and T1-weighted fast field echo sequences before and 24 hours after injection of Gadophrin-3, a new necrosis-avid contrast agent. Tumor necrosis on MR images was quantified by means of a dedicated segmentation program and was correlated with histologic findings.

RESULTS:

In all tumors a central necrosis was revealed by histopathologic analysis, and central enhancement was seen with Gadophrin-3 on T1-weighted images. Small tumors (diameter, < 1 cm) showed an inhomogeneous central enhancement, whereas larger tumors (diameter, > 1 cm) enhanced mainly in the periphery of necrotic tissue. Plain T2-weighted images showed a hyperintense central area in only three of 20 cases with a large central necrosis.

CONCLUSION:

Gadophrin-3-enhanced T1-weighted images are superior to plain T2-weighted images for the detection of necrosis in a murine tumor xenograft model.

• Authors: Stephan Metz, Heike E Daldrup-Unk, Thomas Richter, Christoph Räth, Wolfgang Ebert, Marcus Settles, Ernst J Rummeny, Thomas M Link, Morand Piert
• Journal: Academic radiology (Acad Radiol) Vol. 10 Issue 5 Pg. 484-90 (May 2003) ISSN: 1076-6332 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12755535 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Gadophrin-3
• Metalloporphyrins
• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Animals
• Contrast Media
• Female
• Gadolinium DTPA
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental (pathology)
• Metalloporphyrins
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Necrosis
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Sarcoma, Experimental (pathology)