Robust estimation of hemo-dynamic parameters in traditional DCE-MRI models

PURPOSE: In dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI, separation of signal contributions from perfusion and leakage requires robust estimation of parameters in a pharmacokinetic model. We present and quantify the performance of a method to compute tissue hemodynamic parameters from DCE data using established pharmacokinetic models. METHODS: We propose a Bayesian scheme to obtain perfusion metrics from DCE MRI data. Initial performance is assessed through digital phantoms of the extended Tofts model (ETM) and the two-compartment exchange model (2CXM), comparing the Bayesian scheme to the standard Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm. Digital phantoms are also invoked to identify limitations in the pharmacokinetic models related to measurement conditions. Using computed maps of the extra vascular volume (v(e)) from 19 glioma patients, we analyze differences in the number of un-physiological high-intensity v(e) values for both ETM and 2CXM, using a one-tailed paired t-test assuming un-equal variance. RESULTS: The Bayesian parameter estimation scheme demonstrated superior performance over the LM technique in the digital phantom simulations. In addition, we identified limitations in parameter reliability in relation to scan duration for the 2CXM. DCE data for glioma and cervical cancer patients was analyzed with both algorithms and demonstrated improvement in image readability for the Bayesian method. The Bayesian method demonstrated significantly fewer non-physiological high-intensity v(e) values for the ETM (p<0.0001) and the 2CXM (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated substantial improvement of the perceptive quality of pharmacokinetic parameters from advanced compartment models using the Bayesian parameter estimation scheme as compared to the LM technique.