Intra- and inter-observer variability in dependence of T1-time correction for common dynamic contrast enhanced MRI parameters in prostate cancer patients.

Background: Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI parameters are potential biomarkers to characterise tumour vasculature and distinguish it from the non-cancerous blood vessel system within the prostate. However, the inevitable presence of intra- and inter-observer variabilities is challenging in this context. Additionally, pre-contrast T1-time correction is a prerequisite to gain quantitative DCE parameters in the first place.

Impact of hybrid PET/MR technology on multiparametric imaging and treatment response assessment of cervix cancer.

Background And Purpose: Multimodal tissue characterization by combined MRI and PET has high clinical potential in the context of sub-target definition for dose painting and response assessment but its clinical exploration is yet limited. The aim of this study was to prove the potential and feasibility of hybrid PET/MRI to non-invasively measure tumor hypoxia, perfusion and microstructure at one stop in tumors of the uterine cervix during chemoradiotherapy.

Material And Methods: Ten cervix cancer patients were subjected to simultaneous multiparametric PET/MRI with [F]fluoromisonidazole ([F]FMISO).

Image guided adaptive external beam radiation therapy for cervix cancer: Evaluation of a clinically implemented plan-of-the-day technique.

Background: Radiotherapy for cervix cancer is challenging in patients exhibiting large daily changes in the pelvic anatomy, therefore adaptive treatments (ART) have been proposed. The aim of this study was the clinical implementation and subsequent evaluation of plan-of-the-day (POTD)-ART for cervix cancer in supine positioning. The described workflow was based on standard commercial equipment and current quality assurance (QA) methods.

Changes in Tumor Biology During Chemoradiation of Cervix Cancer Assessed by Multiparametric MRI and Hypoxia PET.

Purpose: Imaging biomarkers assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) enable non-invasive tumor characterization in cervix cancer patients. We investigated the spatio-temporal stability of hypoxia, perfusion, and the cell density of tumors over time by repetitive imaging prior to, during, and after radio-chemotherapy.

Procedures: Thirteen patients were included in this prospective study.