In vivo visualization of mesoscopic anatomy of healthy and pathological lymph nodes using 7T MRI: A feasibility study. Issue 5 (26th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Freitag, Martin T.; Breithaupt, Mathies; Berger, Moritz; Umathum, Reiner; Nagel, Armin M.; Hassel, Jessica; Ladd, Mark E.; Schlemmer, Heinz‐Peter; Semmler, Wolfhard; Stieltjes, Bram
• Is Part Of: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging. Volume 41:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 1405
• Page End: 1412
• Publication Date: 2014-06-26
• Subjects: Magnetic resonance imaging -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24686
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-1807

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jmri24686-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>To evaluate whether inguinal lymph nodes (LNs) may be visualized in vivo using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high spatial resolution.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmri24686-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and Methods</title> <p>Twelve healthy controls and six patients with LN metastasis of melanoma were included. Examinations were performed using a 7T MRI and a transmit/receive loop coil. The protocol included a <italic>B</italic><sub>0</sub>‐map, <italic>B</italic><sub>1</sub>‐map, and <italic>T</italic><sub>1</sub>‐weighted‐3D‐fast low‐angle shot (FLASH), <italic>T</italic><sub>1</sub>w‐Dixon‐volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) and <italic>T</italic><sub>2</sub>w sequences lasting 34.4 ± 0.5 minutes. Signal‐ and contrast‐to‐noise of LNs, artery, muscle, and fat were quantified in controls. Metastatic features of LNs (hypervascularization, lymph vessels, fat hilus sign, tumor bulk, number of metastases, and size) were classified in patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmri24686-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Mesoscopic LN architecture such as central blood vessels and peripheral lymph vessels were observed in healthy controls with 0.5 mm<sup>3</sup> isotropic resolution for <italic>T</italic><sub>1</sub>w and 0.2 × 0.2 × 2 mm<sup>3</sup> for <italic>T</italic><sub>2</sub>w sequences. Mean signal‐to‐noise using 3D FLASH, Dixon VIBE and <italic>T</italic><sub>2</sub> TSE of healthy LN (27.2 ± 7.5, 35.3 ± 11.9, 31.7 ± 11.1), muscle (17.6 ± 4.6, 31.5 ± 9.3, 7.3 ± 5.4), artery (37.7 ± 5.9, 42.7 ± 19.7, 3.7 ± 3.9), and saturated fat (3.7 ± 0.9, 5.4 ± 1.9, 9.3 ± 5.2) and mean contrast‐to‐noise LN/fat (24.4 ± 6.7, 39.6 ± 11.1, 23.3 ± 6.1) were adequate. In patients, multiple signs of metastasis could be clearly visualized.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmri24686-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>We present a protocol with which inguinal LNs and their mesoscopic anatomy may be visualized in vivo using 7T MRI. <bold>J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:1405–1412.</bold> © <bold>2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</bold></p> </sec> </abstract>