The choice of region of interest measures in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image characterization of experimental breast tumors.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine if magnetic resonance (MR) estimates of quantitative tissue microvascular characteristics from regions of interest (ROI) limited to the tumor periphery provided a better correlation with tumor histologic grade than ROI defined for the whole tumor in cross-section.

Methods: A metaanalysis was based on 98 quantitative MR image breast tumor characterizations acquired in 3 separate experimental studies using identical methods for tumor induction and contrast enhancement.

Results: The endothelial transfer coefficient (K) of albumin (Gd-DTPA)30 from the tumor periphery correlated (r = 0.