A study on reference based time intensity curves quantification in DCE-MRI monitoring of rectal cancer

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) is a functional modality which involves the administration of an adequate contrast agent (typically Gadolinium DTPA) and, subsequently, the assessment of signal intensities changes over time. The signal intensity on T1-weighted images can be considered proportional to the concentration of contrast agent. The intensity-time curve can be studied trough semiquantitative parameters. Time intensity curve (TIC) is influenced by the differences in tuning and scaling factors between scanners or even between sessions on the same scanner. Therefore, for comparing the semi-quantitative parameters of different patients or for the same patient before, during and after the neo-adjuvant treatment, or for performing multicentre studies, it is necessary the normalization of the signal intensity curve. In this study a procedure for reference based normalization is investigated