Dispersion Correction in DCE-MRI Microvascular Parameters using a Recirculating Bolus AIF Model

Ross A. Little¹, Marietta Scott², Anita Banerji¹, Yvonne Watson¹, Josephine Naish¹, Geoff J. M. Parker¹

An arterial input function (AIF) model is presented that allows the effects of AIF dispersion to be characterised. This facilitates modelling of dispersion between the measurement point of an AIF and the tissue voxel of interest, providing an improved fit and a measure of AIF dispersion across the tissue. Simulations and application to clinical data show the applicability of the dispersed AIF method within the DCE-MRI analysis pipeline. They show that not accommodating dispersal leads to errors on the tissue microvascular parameters.