Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in oncology is used for monitoring disease during treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, local treatment), for diagnosing recurrence or spread of disease and in the planning of therapy.
Recent progress in MRI techniques has introduced functional imaging techniques that were previously mainly used for neuro-applications. Furthermore, advances in coil technology have now made whole body MRI possible within clinically realistic scan times.
The main focus of the research is further development and application of the functional imaging technique diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and integrating these techniques with whole body MRI. Other functional techniques such as perfusion MRI (DCE-MRI) are also being used.
DWI may detect and quantify cancer development during treatment in a short scan time without the use of ionising radiation and contrast agent. However, basic problems concerning its application and quantitative abilities still need to be addressed. The research focuses on:
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Technical development within quantification of diffusion in the body by applying new ways of obtaining and analysing diffusion data based on multiple b-value acquisition and correction for a number of artifacts both during acquisition and analysis of the DWI data.
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Comparative studies with other modalities to assess the accuracy of DWI and DCE-MRI.
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Clinical development and evaluation of whole body MRI in oncology.
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Application of functional MRI-techniques within radiotherapy planning as part of a joined effort with the Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital.
Contacts:
Erik Morre Pedersen, MD, PhD, DMSc, Associate Professor, Consultant Radiologist: erikpede@rm.dk
Søren Haack, MSc PhD student: soren.haack@stab.rm.dk
Kennet Thorup, MSc, PhD student: kennthor@rm.dk
Kim Sivesgaard, MD, PhD student: kimsives@rm.dk
David Peters, MSc, PhD: david.peters@stab.rm.dk
Jesper Kallehauge, MSc., PhD student: jespkall@rm.dk
Kari Tanderup, MSc, PhD, Research Professor: karitand@rm.dk