Characterizing gradient echo signal decays in gynecologic cancers at 3T using a Gaussian augmentation of the monoexponential (GAME) model

Pelin A. Ciris, Mukund Balasubramanian, Antonio L. Damato, Ravi T. Seethamraju, Clare M. Tempany-Afdhal, Robert V. Mulkern, Akila N. Viswanathan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether R2* mapping with a standard Monoexponential (ME) or a Gaussian Augmentation of the Monoexponential (GAME) decay model better characterizes gradient-echo signal decays in gynecological cancers after external beam radiation therapy at 3T, and evaluate implications of modeling for noninvasive identification of intratumoral hypoxia. Materials and Methods: Multi-gradient-echo signals were acquired on 25 consecutive patients with gynecologic cancers and three healthy participants during inhalation of different oxygen concentrations at 3T. Data were fitted with both ME and GAME models. Models were compared using F-tests in tumors and muscles in patients, muscles, cervix, and uterus in healthy participants, and across oxygenation levels. Results: GAME significantly improved fitting over ME (P < 0.05): Improvements with GAME covered 34% of tumor regions-of-interest on average, ranging from 6% (of a vaginal tumor) to 68% (of a cervical tumor) in individual tumors. Improvements with GAME were more prominent in areas that would be assumed hypoxic based on ME alone, reaching 90% as ME R2* approached 100 Hz. Gradient echo decay parameters at different oxygenation levels were not significantly different (P = 0.81). Conclusion: R2* may prove sensitive to hypoxia; however, inaccurate representations of underlying data may limit the success of quantitative assessments. Although the degree to which R2 or σ values correlate with hypoxia remains unknown, improved characterization with GAME increases the potential for determining any correlates of fit parameters with biomarkers, such as oxygenation status. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2016;44:1020–1030.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1020-1030
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Gaussian
  • Lorentzian
  • biophysical modeling
  • blood oxygenation
  • gynecologic cancers
  • transverse relaxation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterizing gradient echo signal decays in gynecologic cancers at 3T using a Gaussian augmentation of the monoexponential (GAME) model'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this