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Delayed hepatic signal recovery on ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance images in a rat model with regional liver irradiation

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Abstract

Object

To determine whether superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging could demonstrate signal recovery delay in irradiated areas of rat livers. We also investigated the relationship between MR imaging and histological findings.

Materials and methods

Twelve rats received 20 μmol iron/kg of SPIO followed by X-irradiation to the right upper abdomen 4 h later. Radiation doses were 0, 50 and 70 Gy. Hepatic signals were assessed on unenhanced T *2 -weighted images for up to 7 days using a 9.4-Tesla scanner. The livers were excised on day 7 and examined histologically.

Results

Normalized relative signal intensity of 70 Gy-irradiated right liver lobe (2.36 ± 0.22) and 50 Gy-irradiated right liver lobe (2.37 ± 0.46) was significantly lower than that of the non-irradiated right liver lobe (4.04 ± 0.28) on day 7, respectively (p < 0.05). Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between relative intensity of the liver and the number of hepatic iron deposits was −0.588 (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging could demonstrate signal recovery delay in irradiated areas of rat livers. It seems that the signal recovery delay in irradiated areas was due to SPIO-derived iron deposition. Hepatic signal recovery could be a novel diagnostic marker for delineation of irradiated areas.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants for the Third Term Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control (21-5) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, a grant from Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research in Japan, and a grant from Japan Radiological Society. Toshihiro Furuta, MD, PhD was a recipient of a Research Resident Fellowship from the Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research in Japan. Ryutaro Nakagami, MS is a research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Functional Imaging, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan

    Toshihiro Furuta, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Ryutaro Nakagami & Hirofumi Fujii

  2. Department of Radiology, Research Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Toshihiro Furuta

  3. Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

    Ryutaro Nakagami

  4. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Masaaki Akahane & Kuni Ohtomo

  5. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Manabu Minami

Authors
  1. Toshihiro Furuta
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  2. Masayuki Yamaguchi
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  3. Ryutaro Nakagami
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  4. Masaaki Akahane
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  5. Manabu Minami
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  6. Kuni Ohtomo
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  7. Hirofumi Fujii
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masayuki Yamaguchi.

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Furuta, T., Yamaguchi, M., Nakagami, R. et al. Delayed hepatic signal recovery on ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance images in a rat model with regional liver irradiation. Magn Reson Mater Phy 27, 501–508 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-014-0434-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-014-0434-7

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