Jonas Svensson1,2, Andreas Steingtter1, Markus Schwaiger1, Ernst Rummeny3, Rickmer Braren3
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universitt Mnchen, Munich, Germany; 2Medical Radiation Physics, Malm University Hospital, Lund University, Malm, Sweden; 3Department of Radiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitt Mnchen, Munich, Germany
DCE-MRI can be used for studies of tumor viability. The method requires an arterial input function (AIF) but with current MR techniques it is difficult to acquire an AIF that reliably describe the bolus dynamics in small animals. In this work a high temporal resolution, population-based AIF is acquired using a clinical CT scanner. The AIF is functionally modelled and successfully applied to quantitative DCE-MRI of 11 liver-tumor bearing rats resulting in stable Ktrans and ve values with low inter-animal variations. It is also shown that incorrect estimation of the peak contrast agent concentration could induce large errors in Ktrans.