Stephanie Donaldson1, Bernadette Carrington2, Suzanne Bonington2, Richard Cowan3, Jeanette Lyons3, David Buckley4
1Christie Medical Physics and Engineering, The Christie, Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom; 2Department of Radiology, The Christie, Manchester, United Kingdom; 3Department of Clinical Oncology, The Christie, Manchester, United Kingdom; 4Division of Medical Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Treatment of bladder cancer with chemotherapy and radiotherapy results in inflammation which mimics residual tumour on conventional MR images. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-) MRI was performed in eighteen patients following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Data obtained from abnormal areas observed on conventional MR images were analysed with a two-compartment exchange model to obtain estimates of perfusion and permeability. The descriptive parameter, relative signal intensity at 80 s (rSI80s) was calculated. The bladder was examined for evidence of residual tumour and/or post-chemotherapy effect. DCE-MRI parameters obtained in areas of residual tumour were significantly higher than those obtained in areas of post-chemotherapy effect.