Evaluation of brain metastases with dynamic susceptibility-contrast MR imaging

Objective: To study the characteristics of dynamic susceptibility-contrast (DSC) MR perfusion curves, color images and perfusion values in pre-operative brain metastasis. Methods: Twenty- eight brain metastases underwent DSC MR perfusion imaging by using a first-pass T2* echo-planar sequence. The patients' data were transferred to on-line workstation. Time-signal intensity curves, color perfusion maps and rCBV, rMTT values in both tumor parenchyma and peri-tumor edema were analyzed, and independent t- test was used and P<0.05 as a significant difference. Results: No apparent difference was detected among different originated metastases in perfusion curves and color maps. Most brain metastases showed equal perfusion to normal grey matter in parenchyma of tumors and showed low perfusion in peri-tumor edema. The transit time was longer than normal white matter in both the parenchyma part of tumor and the peri-tumor edema. The maximum rCBV value of 12 metastasis form lung cancer and 5 from breast cancer were 272.5± 34.3, and 210.8±59.4 in parenchyma part and 122.0±16.3 and 68.4±6.1 in peri-tumor edema, and rMTT values of the tumor were 117.7±4.3 and 105.2±21.3, and rMTT values of edema were 112.7±8.3 and 139.8±37.9, respectively. All these values showed no significant difference between the two groups (P >0.05). Conclusion: Different originated brain metastases have nearly same characteristics in DSC MR perfusion imaging. (authors)