Multiscale Model of Liver DCE-MRI Towards a Better Understanding of Tumor Complexity

Abstract—The use of quantitative imaging for the characterization of hepatic tumors in MRI can improve the diagnosis and therefore the treatment of these life-threatening tumors. However, image parameters remain difficult to interpret because they result from a mixture of complex processes related to pathophysiology and to acquisition. These processes occur at variable spatial and temporal scales. We propose a multiscale model of liver Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) MRI in order to better understand the tumor complexity in images. Our design couples a model of the organ (tissue and vasculature) with a model of the image acquisition. At the macroscopic scale, vascular trees take a prominent place. Regarding the formation of MRI images, we propose a distributed model of parenchymal biodistribution of extracellular contrast agents. Model parameters can be adapted to simulate the tumor development. The sensitivity of the multiscale model of liver DCE-MRI was studied through observation...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: TMI
• Authors: Muriel Mescam, Marek Kretowski, Johanne Bézy-Wendling
• Keywords: Images, Model, TMI 2010, Tumor