Cancers
Qualitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Time–Intensity Curve Analysis for Differentiating Non-Progressive Treatment-Related Changes from Tumor Progression After Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Brain Metastases
By Andrea Romano, Giulia Moltoni, Anna Maria Ascolese and 8 others.
Abstract
Background
This exploratory study assessed whether qualitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) time–intensity curves (TICs) differentiate non-progressive treatment-related changes (NPTRC) from tumor progression after stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases.
Methods
Thirty-two patients with 51 treated lesions underwent DCE-MRI. Five neuroradiologists independently delineated a volume of interest and classified the resulting TIC as Type A–D. Longitudinal clinical and MRI follow-up provided the reference outcome, which was recorded before the TIC framework was finalized. An A/B versus C/D grouping was evaluated as a secondary exploratory analysis.