Nicolas Pannetier1,2, Benjamin Lemasson3,4, Thomas Christen1,2, Rgine Farion1,2, Christoph Segebarth1,2, Chantal Remy1,2, Emmanuel Luc Barbier1,2
1Inserm, U836, Grenoble, F-38043, France; 2 Universit Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, UMR-S836, Grenoble, F-38043, France; 3Oncodesign Biotechnology, Dijon, France; 4 Inserm, U836, Grenoble, F-38043, France
Vessel Size Index (VSI) is a powerful tool for characterizing tumor vessel diameters and their evolution under therapy. VSI has been obtained either using a Gd-bolus or at steady-state using iron oxide particles. In this study we compared the VSI obtained with Gd and with iron using either a dynamic approach (first passage) or a steady state approach. Data were acquired in rats bearing a glioma model. The case of Gd-loaded tumor was also considered. This study suggests that monitoring the first passage of a Gd-bolus with a double-echo EPI sequence is well suited to assess VSI in humans.