Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in cancer

Interest in new blood vessel formation in tumours (angiogenesis) has led to the development of imaging strategies for investigating the microvascular structure and function of tumours. One such technique is dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), where gadolinium based contrast agents are injected intravenously and serial image acquisitions are performed as the contrast agent passes through the tumour vascular bed. Sophisticated analyses can then be applied in order to produce indirect measures of parameters that represent blood flow, vascular volume, capillary permeability and surface area. The technique has been used to characterise malignant disease and to evaluate the effect of therapies that target tumour blood vessels. This article reviews the important image acquisition and data analysis principles behind DCE-MRI and highlights its use in clinical and research medicine to date.