Sarwar M Sulaiman, Vallatos Antoine, Lau Cher Hon, Waldman Adam, Dimartino Simone, Thrippleton Michael J
Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Institute for Bioengineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Magn Reson Med. 2025 Nov;94(5):1889-1899. doi: 10.1002/mrm.30595. Epub 2025 Jun 16.
A novel 3D-printed phantom design and methodology are proposed, addressing important requirements for technical validation, quality assurance, and multi-site harmonization of quantitative DCE-MRI measurements.
Phantoms were produced by 3D-printing (3DP) gels incorporating channels and pores as proxies for blood vessels and extravascular extracellular space, respectively. A flow circuit was designed to reproduce clinically relevant arterial input functions. Using nine gels with variable porosity and channel size, we evaluated the effect of 3DP parameters on DCE-MRI parameters obtained using the extended Tofts model (ET). Physical gel and fitted model parameters were correlated by multiple linear regression.
All phantoms generated realistic arterial input functions, and tissue-like signal enhancement curves were accurately modeled by the ET model. As hypothesized, blood plasma volume fraction, v, was positively associated with the channel volume fraction, v, (B = 0.86, p < 0.001) and showed a weaker, negative association with gel porosity, v, (B = -0.18, p = 0.006). Vascular permeability-surface area product, PS, was positively associated with both v (B = 0.13 min, p < 0.001); and v (B = 0.051 min, p < 0.001). The extravascular extracellular space (EES) volume fraction, v, was positively associated with v (B = 0.90, p < 0.001) but not v. Fitted parameters were reproducible (coefficient of variation 2.1%-3.2%).
Tailorable 3D-printed porous gel phantoms generating tissue-mimicking DCE-MRI signals have the potential to support validation, quality assurance, and multi-site harmonization of quantitative DCE-MRI.
提出一种新型的3D打印体模设计和方法，以满足技术验证、质量保证以及定量动态对比增强磁共振成像（DCE-MRI）测量的多中心协调的重要要求。
通过3D打印（3DP）凝胶制作体模，其中分别将通道和孔隙作为血管和血管外细胞外间隙的替代物。设计了一个流动回路以重现临床相关的动脉输入函数。使用九种具有可变孔隙率和通道尺寸的凝胶，我们评估了3DP参数对使用扩展Tofts模型（ET）获得的DCE-MRI参数的影响。通过多元线性回归将物理凝胶参数和拟合模型参数进行关联。
所有体模均产生了逼真的动脉输入函数，并且组织样信号增强曲线由ET模型准确建模。如所假设的，血浆体积分数v与通道体积分数v呈正相关（B = 0.86，p < 0.001），并且与凝胶孔隙率v呈较弱的负相关（B = -0.18，p = 0.006）。血管通透性-表面积乘积PS与v（B = 0.13 min，p < 0.001）和v（B = 0.051 min，p < 0.001）均呈正相关。血管外细胞外间隙（EES）体积分数v与v呈正相关（B = 0.90，p < 0.001），但与v无关。拟合参数具有可重复性（变异系数为2.1%-3.2%）。
可定制的3D打印多孔凝胶体模可生成模拟组织的DCE-MRI信号，有潜力支持定量DCE-MRI的验证、质量保证和多中心协调。
