P}erformances of Different Algorithms for Tracer Kinetics Parameters Estimation in Breast DCE-{MRI

Roberta Fusco; Mario Sansone; Antonella Petrillo

Objective of this study was to evaluate the performances of different algorithms for tracer kinetics parameters estimation in breast Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-MRI. We considered four algorithms: two non-iterative algorithms based on impulsive and linear approximation of the Arterial Input Function respectively; and two iterative algorithms widely used for non-linear regression (Levenberg-Marquardt, LM and VARiable PROjection, VARPRO). Per each value of the kinetic parameters within a physiological range, we simulated 100 noisy curves and estimated the parameters with all algorithms. Sampling time, total duration and noise level have been chosen as in a typical breast examination. We compared the performances with respect to the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). Moreover, in order to gain further insight we applied the algorithms to a real breast examination. Accuracy of all the methods depends on the specific value of the parameters. The methods are in general biased: however, VARPRO showed small bias in a region of the parameter space larger than the other methods; moreover, VARPRO approached CRLB and the number of iterations were smaller than LM. In the specific conditions analyzed, VARPRO showed better performances with respect to LM and to non-iterative algorithms.

Select Volume / Issues:

• Volume 5,Issue 4, July 2014

Year:

2014

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

DCE-MRI; Tracer Kinetics Modeling; Variable Projection; Levenberg-Marquardt; Breast Cancer

Journal:

IJECCE

Volume:

5

Number:

4

Pages:

911-916

Month:

July