Mean intensity curve on dynamic contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted perfusion MR imaging--review of a new parameter to differentiate intracranial tumors.

Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion imaging has been in clinical use for various indications, including characterization and grading of intracranial neoplasms. However, several technical factors can lead to pitfalls in image interpretation. This review discusses the extraction of T1 and T2* information from mean curve analysis of DSC perfusion imaging of various brain tumors, which provides further insights into tumor biology and, thus, may be useful in the differential diagnosis of such tumors. Indeed, by looking at the mean time-signal intensity curve from the tumor bed in addition to the rCBV maps, it is possible to obtain further inferences of capillary density and lesion leakiness. When dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) T1 perfusion is not available, DSC perfusion with mean curve analysis appears to be a valid alternative for characterizing various brain neoplasms in a routine clinical setting.