MR imaging and spectroscopy for prognostic evaluation in soft-tissue sarcomas.

Overview

PURPOSE: To enable prediction of tumor response to a particular treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors studied the value of hydrogen-1 T2 and phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic metabolic determinations as indicators of prognosis in 20 humans and 10 dogs with soft-tissue sarcomas. All patients underwent combined fractionated radiation therapy and hyperthermia. Surgical resection of the entire tumor in humans allowed comparison of pretherapy T2 and MR spectroscopic parameters with subsequent histologic findings. Long-term clinical follow-up (no surgical intervention) was available with the dogs and allowed comparison of pretherapy pH with the duration of local relapse-free survival. RESULTS: A relationship exists between pretherapy pH and T2 and ultimate tumor necrosis in humans and pretherapy pH and time elapsed until local failure in dogs. CONCLUSION: MR imaging and spectroscopy could be useful in the prognosis of patients with soft-tissue sarcomas before therapy is initiated.