TITLE:
Pediatric Application of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging (DCE-MR) in the Management of Extra-Cranial Tumor: Experience in Routine Clinical Practice
AUTHORS:
Wendy Wai-Man Lam, Daniel Cheuk, Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan
KEYWORDS:
MR, DCE-MR, Dynamic Contrast MR, Tumor, Children, Pediatric
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Radiology,
Vol.10 No.2,
June
1,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MR) is becoming a widely accepted complementary method for diagnosing breast cancer and other cancers in adults. It is useful to predict tumor response to anticancer therapy and monitor the tumor response to the therapy. This form of imaging techniques has not been adequately explored in pediatric oncology patients. Objective: To determine the potential role of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MR) in the diagnosis and treatment response monitoring of childhood and young adult extra-cranial tumors in routine clinical setting. Methods: Children with suspected extra-cranial solid tumors, including newly diagnosed or follow-up cases of confirmed tumors, were recruited. DCE-MR was performed with intravenous injection of 0.1 mmol/kg contrast. The enhancement time curves were plotted and the enhancement patterns were categorized into type 1, 2 and 3 curves. Enhancement curve patterns and maximal enhancement intensity were compared with types of tumor in newly diagnosed cases. The preoperative percentiles of inactive area on the colour map were compared with the necrotic areas on histologic sections of the resected specimens in follow-up cases. Pearson Chi-square test and Unpaired two-sample t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were 36 patients, involving 28 malignant and 8 benign cases. There were 14 type 3 curves, (all of them were malignant tumors), 6 type 2 curves and 16 type 1 curves. All the benign cases (n = 8) demonstrated type 1 curve (accuracy & negative predictive value = 100%). All the malignant cases after treatment showed type 2 or 1 curve. For those cases with operation done afterwards, the extent of tumor necrosis was correlated closely with pathology findings (accuracy = 93.3%). Conclusion: Type 1 curve was a good predictor of benign lesion. DEC-MR may have a role to play in the monitoring of the progress of treatment and extent of tumor necrosis.