MRI mapping of microvascular permeability and tissue blood volume.

A quick and automated method for quantitative spatial mapping of tissue characteristics derived from contrast enhanced MR imaging by a macromolecular contrast medium (MMCM) was used in normal rats. Specifically, an established two compartment unidirectional flow kinetic model was automatically implemented on a pixel by pixel basis to calculate permeability surface area product (PS) and tissue fractional blood volume (BV) from MRI dynamic intensity data. The utility of PS and BV maps were evaluated in the normal rat abdomen where a range of fractional BV was found: from 100% in the vena cava to 1% in skeletal muscles, with intermediate values for liver and kidney. Tissue permeability depicted on the PS maps was generally low for normal tissues.