Quantification of Prostate Cancer Metabolism Using 3D Multiecho bSSFP and Hyperpolarized [1- C] Pyruvate: Metabolism Differs Between Tumors of the Same Gleason Grade.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) multiecho balanced steady-state free precession (ME-bSSFP) has previously been demonstrated in preclinical hyperpolarized (HP) C-MRI in vivo experiments, and it may be suitable for clinical metabolic imaging of prostate cancer (PCa).

Purpose: To validate a signal simulation framework for the use of sequence parameter optimization. To demonstrate the feasibility of ME-bSSFP for HP C-MRI in patients.

A reproducible dynamic phantom for sequence testing in hyperpolarised C-magnetic resonance.

Objective: To develop a phantom system which can be integrated with an automated injection system, eliminating the experimental variability that arises with manual injection; for the purposes of pulse sequence testing and metric derivation in hyperpolarised C-MR.

Methods: The custom dynamic phantom was machined from Ultem and filled with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and lactate dehydrogenase mixture dissolved in phosphate buffered saline. Hyperpolarised [1-C]-pyruvate was then injected into the phantom ( = 8) via an automated syringe pump and the conversion of pyruvate to lactate monitored through a C imaging sequence.

Utility of diffusion MRI characteristics of cervical lymph nodes as disease classifier between patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and healthy volunteers.

Diffusion MRI characteristics assessed by apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been reported as helpful in classifying tumours based on diffusion characteristics. There is little reported on HNSCC lymph nodes classification by diffusion characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine whether pretreatment nodal microstructural diffusion MRI characteristics can classify diseased nodes of patients with HNSCC from normal nodes of healthy volunteers.

Understanding PI-QUAL for prostate MRI quality: a practical primer for radiologists.

Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of high diagnostic quality is a key determinant for either detection or exclusion of prostate cancer. Adequate high spatial resolution on T2-weighted imaging, good diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences of high signal-to-noise ratio are the prerequisite for a high-quality MRI study of the prostate. The Prostate Imaging Quality (PI-QUAL) score was created to assess the diagnostic quality of a scan against a set of objective criteria as per Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System recommendations, together with criteria obtained from the image.

Standardisation of prostate multiparametric MRI across a hospital network: a London experience.

Objectives: National guidelines recommend prostate multiparametric (mp) MRI in men with suspected prostate cancer before biopsy. In this study, we explore prostate mpMRI protocols across 14 London hospitals and determine whether standardisation improves diagnostic quality.

Methods: An MRI physicist facilitated mpMRI set-up across several regional hospitals, working together with experienced uroradiologists who judged diagnostic quality.

Hyperpolarised C MRI: a new horizon for non-invasive diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer.

Hyperpolarised C MRI (HP-MRI) is a novel imaging technique that allows real-time analysis of metabolic pathways . The technology to conduct HP-MRI in humans has recently become available and is starting to be clinically applied. As knowledge of molecular biology advances, it is increasingly apparent that cancer cell metabolism is related to disease outcomes, with lactate attracting specific attention.

First-in-human non-invasive assessment of intra-tumoral metabolic heterogeneity in renal cell carcinoma.

Intratumoral genetic heterogeneity and the role of metabolic reprogramming in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been extensively documented. However, the distribution of these metabolic changes within the tissue has not been explored. We report on the first-in-human non-invasive metabolic interrogation of RCC using hyperpolarized carbon-13 (C) magnetic resonance imaging (HP-MRI) and describe the validation of lactate metabolic heterogeneity against multi-regional mass spectrometry.

Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in lung cancers: ADC test-retest repeatability.

Purpose: To determine the test-retest repeatability of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements across institutions and MRI vendors, plus investigate the effect of post-processing methodology on measurement precision.

Methods: Thirty malignant lung lesions >2 cm in size (23 patients) were scanned on two occasions, using echo-planar-Diffusion-Weighted (DW)-MRI to derive whole-tumour ADC (b = 100, 500 and 800smm). Scanning was performed at 4 institutions (3 MRI vendors).

Development of a temperature-controlled phantom for magnetic resonance quality assurance of diffusion, dynamic, and relaxometry measurements.

Purpose: Diffusion-weighted (DW) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are increasingly applied for the assessment of functional tissue biomarkers for diagnosis, lesion characterization, or for monitoring of treatment response. However, these techniques are vulnerable to the influence of various factors, so there is a necessity for a standardized MR quality assurance procedure utilizing a phantom to facilitate the reliable estimation of repeatability of these quantitative biomarkers arising from technical factors (e.g.

Dosimetric characteristics of a new polymer gel and their dependence on post-preparation and post-irradiation time: effect on X-ray beam profile measurements.

The aim of this study is to dosimetrically characterize a new MRI based polymer gel system and to evaluate its usefulness in clinical practice just in terms of beam profile measurements. Normoxic N-vinylpyrrolidone based polymer gel (VIPET) phantoms were produced and used in order to perform three main sets of experiments: a) dose-response evaluation and reproducibility experiments, b) experiments for the evaluation of sensitivity of dose characteristics on 'gel manufacture - irradiation' time interval and c) experiments for the evaluation of sensitivity of dose characteristics on 'irradiation - MRscanning' time interval. It has been shown that this gel system can be used in a wide dose-range of 0-60 Gy.