A Comparison of DCE-MRI Pharmacokinetic Models in Human Breast Cancer

Xia Li¹, Lori R. Arlinghaus¹, E. Brian Welch¹, A. Bapsi Chakravarthy¹, Lei Xu¹, Jaime Farley¹, Ingrid Mayer¹, Mark Kelley¹, Ingrid Meszoely¹, Julie Means-Powell¹, Vandana Abramson¹, Ana Grau¹, Mia Levy¹, John C. Gore¹, Thomas E. Yankeelov¹

By fitting the signal intensity time course of DCE-MRI to a proper pharmacokinetic model, physiological parameters related to vessel perfusion and permeability, or extravascular extracellular volume fraction can be extracted. However, the literature presents different results regarding the predictive value of quantitative DCE-MRI in breast cancer data. One possible reason is that the fast exchange limit model may not adequately describe the relevant physiology. Here we report the results of statistical tests on the analyses provided by the FXL with and without the plasma component, and the fast exchange regime model to assess which model is statistically preferred.