Figure 1
From: Breast imaging technology: Current and future technologies for breast cancer imaging
In vivo MR imaging. MR image of a single mouse with TfR+ and TfR- flank tumors. (a) The T1-weighted coronal SE image (imaging time, 3.5 min; 300 × 300 × 3000 μm3 voxel resolution). TfR- tumors (right arrowhead) and TfR+ tumors (left arrowhead) have similar signal intensity. (b) Corresponding T2-weighted gradient echo image showing significant difference between TfR- and TfR+ tumors (imaging time, 8 min; 300 × 300 × 3000 μm3 voxel resolution). TfR-mediated cellular accumulation of the superparamagnetic probe decreases signal intensity as expected. These differences in MR signal intensity were most pronounced using T2- and T2 *-weighted imaging pulse sequences consistent with the increased R2 upon cellular internalization. (c) Composite of a T1-weighted spin echo image obtained for anatomic detail with superimposed R2 changes after Tf-MION administration displayed in a color map. Note the difference in R2 changes between the TfR+ and TfR- tumors (asterisks). Scale bar, 10 mm; N = 1. (Reproduced with permission from Weissleder et al [13].)