Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Glucose Uptake and Metabolism in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Imaging metabolic dysfunction, a hallmark of solid tumors, usually requires radioactive tracers. Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging can potentially detect and visualize glucose uptake and metabolism, without the need for radioisotopes. Here, we tested the feasibility of using glucose CEST (glucoCEST) to image unlabeled glucose uptake in head and neck cancer by using a clinical 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The average CEST contrast between tumors and normal tissue in 17 patients was 7.58% (P = 0.006) in the 3-4 ppm offset frequency range and 5.06% (P = 0.02) in 1-5 ppm range. In a subgroup of eight patients, glucoCEST signal enhancement was higher in tumors than in normal muscle (4.98% vs. 1.28%, P < 0.021). We conclude that glucoCEST images of head and neck cancer can be obtained with a clinical 3T MRI scanner.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number30618
JournalScientific reports
Volume6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 27 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Clinical Trials Office

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Glucose Uptake and Metabolism in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this