Imaging method for the grading of tumors

US6009342A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Robert C. Brasch · Mill Valley, US
• Heike E. Daldrup · Munster, DE
• David Shames · South San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 27, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 28, 1999
• Expiry date: Feb 27, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/563
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The endothelial integrity of microvessels is disturbed in malignant tumors. We invented a method wherein we used MRI to define tumor microvascular permeabilities and correlated these permeabilities with histologic grade in tumors. Using macromolecular MRI contrast medium, we discovered tumor microvascular permeability values were significantly lower in benign tumors than in carcinomas. In addition, we found that the microvascular permeability values demonstrated a strong correlation with the histologic grade of carcinomas as determined by the Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading system.