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Perfusion CT: Principles, Technical Aspects and Applications in Oncology

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Functional Imaging in Oncology

Abstract

Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT imaging techniques (perfusion CT) enable clinicians to evaluate the functional blood supply to a tissue of interest or organ. From the subsequent changes in enhancement following intravenous administration of an iodinated contrast agent, qualitative and quantitative parameters may be assessed that describe the enhancement time curves obtained or quantify regional perfusion, blood volume and microcirculatory changes, respectively. These parameters may provide prognostic or predictive information to the clinician and enable treatment effects on the vasculature to be assessed. Its clinical use has increased in recent years due to a combination of factors: technological advances in acquisition and post-processing methods that have facilitated its clinical implementation and a perceived clinical need, related to the use of therapeutic interventions in ischemic vascular disease and oncology. This chapter discusses the principles of perfusion CT techniques, clinical protocols and clinical application in oncology.

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Abbreviations

AIF:

Arterial input function

BF:

Regional blood flow

BV:

Blood volume

CT:

Computed tomography

CTDIvol :

CT Dose Index by volume

DCE-CT:

Dynamic contrast enhanced CT

DLP:

Dose length product

DNA:

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

EF:

Extraction Fraction

18F-FDG:

Fluoro-deoxy-glucose

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

K trans :

Transfer constant

MTT:

Mean transit time

MVD:

Microvessel density

NSCLC:

Non small cell lung cancer

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PS:

Permeability surface area product

ROI:

Region of interest

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, London, UK

    Olwen Westerland & Vicky Goh

  2. Department of Radiology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Olwen Westerland

  3. Department of Radiology, St Thomas’ Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    Vicky Goh

Authors
  1. Olwen Westerland
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  2. Vicky Goh
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Correspondence to Vicky Goh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health Time Group, Jaén, Spain

    Antonio Luna

  2. Dept. of MRI, Clínica Girona, Girona, Spain

    Joan C. Vilanova

  3. Botafogo - Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil

    L. Celso Hygino da Cruz Jr.

  4. Centro de Diagnóstico Dr. Enrique Rossi, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Santiago E. Rossi

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Westerland, O., Goh, V. (2014). Perfusion CT: Principles, Technical Aspects and Applications in Oncology. In: Luna, A., Vilanova, J., Hygino da Cruz Jr., L., Rossi, S. (eds) Functional Imaging in Oncology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40412-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40412-2_15

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