Development of a minimally invasive, non-contrast perfusion evaluation method using high-field MRI in malignant lesions of the trunk

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19834
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Sasao Akira 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 特任講師 (30508487)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Arterial Spin Labering / 体幹部非造影灌流画像 / MRI / 悪性腫瘍 / 非侵襲的

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique has been developed as a non-invasive method to obtain perfusion images without using contrast media, mainly in the intra cranial region, by using spins of hydrogen nuclei in the blood. In principle, it is possible to obtaine images other than the head, but in practice it is very difficult to do so. In the present study, we used prostate cancer as a model for this study, and confirmed that increased perfusion in the cancerous lesion was clearly described by optimizing the imaging parameters. It was also shown that it is possible to obtain blood flow information using the ASL method in various trunk organ diseases under optimized conditions.

Free Research Field

放射線医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ASL法は非侵襲的に血液灌流評価可能な方法であることが知られているが、動きに弱く頭部領域での技術開発が主に行われてきた。本研究では動きの影響を受けやすい体幹部臓器への応用を行い、前立腺、腎、乳腺領域の悪性腫瘍精査において有用なことが示された。
腫瘍の多くは高齢者でに多い為、背景腎機能が低下している場合が多く、致死性副作用やガドリニウム沈着が問題となるが本法は造影剤を使用しないため安全である。