Towards More Accurate Modeling of DCE Data: Development of a Multi-Compartment Phantom

Jeff R. Anderson¹, Joseph J H Ackerman¹, Joel R. Garbow¹

Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI is a powerful tool for the imaging of cancer in vivo. However, debate still remains in the literature about which DCE signal model(s) best reflect(s) the image time-course data. An in vitro phantom, based on semi-permeable hollow fibers, has been constructed as a novel platform to assess the quantitative limits of DCE-MRI parameter estimation. Time-of-flight effects allow the intra-lumen signal to be suppressed in the presence of lumen flow and, thus, the kinetic characteristics defining contrast-agent diffusion through the fiber walls into the extra-lumen space to be quantitatively assessed.