Series Expansion of Multi-Compartment Models for DCE-MRI

Steven Sourbron¹

A physically intuitive approach is presented for generating approximations to multi-compartment models for DCE-MRI, and illustrated by application to the two-compartment exchange model. Using this method, the analytical solution for arbitrary multi-compartment models can be written out to any desired accuracy simply by listing in order the paths that a tracer particle can follow through the system. The method increases the physical insight into the behaviour of more complicated compartmental models, and will allow more freedom and flexibility in the design of advanced compartment models for particular applications.