IR-TrueFISP: A New DCE-MRI Approach in Comparison with 3D-Flash Multi Flip Angle Method

For assessing treatment response to novel cancer therapeutics, dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is a valuable tool. Quantitative functional parameter estimates can be obtained by fitting physiological models to the data. In this study the IR-TrueFISP approach was evaluated as DCE-MRI acquisition sequence against the widely used 3D-Flash protocol.For comparison both protocols providing different spatial and temporal information were investigated in phantom and patient examinations. 12 advanced tumor patients underwent two examinations on consecutive days using both protocols. Results were com-pared and were in good agreement with each other. IR-TrueFISP data showed a lower variability compared to 3D-Flash results.This work demonstrates the pros and cons of both investigated methods. It was demonstrated that the known IR-TrueFISP sequence can successfully be employed as DCE-MRI acquisition method estimating perfusion parameters. The benefits of the IR-TrueFISP protocol are high temporal resolution and good accuracy.