Jessica K. R. Boult1, Lara Perryman2,
1Cancer Research UK &
EPSRC Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research & Royal Marsden
NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom; 2Paediatric Oncology,
The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom; 3Cancer
Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research,
Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom
Delineation of infiltrative gliomas, in which the blood brain barrier remains intact, using conventional Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI can be problematic. The use of intravascular USPIO contrast agents may facilitate the detection of such infiltrative areas. In this study, quantitative Gd-DTPA and USPIO-enhanced MRI was performed in orthotopically propagated RG2 gliomas and the spatial relationship compared. Tumours were highly heterogeneous and a displayed a substantially higher blood volume than the surrounding brain. An association between R1 with USPIO and fractional blood volume established with USPIO was observed. Regions of infiltration identified histologically presented with a relatively low blood volume and low R1.