31P MR Spectroscopy in the Pancreas: Repeatability, Comparison With Liver, and Pilot Pancreatic Cancer Data

Abstract

BackgroundNon‐invasive evaluation of phosphomonoesters (PMEs) and phosphodiesters (PDEs) by 31‐phosphorus MR spectroscopy (31P MRS) may have potential for early therapy (non‐)response assessment in cancer. However, 31P MRS has not yet been applied to investigate the human pancreas in vivo.PurposeTo assess the technical feasibility and repeatability of 31P MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of the pancreas, compare 31P metabolite levels between pancreas and liver, and determine the feasibility of 31P MRSI in pancreatic cancer.Study TypeProspective cohort study.Population10 healthy subjects (age 34 ± 12 years, four females) and one patient (73‐year‐old female) with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Field Strength/Sequence7‐T, 31P FID‐MRSI, 1H gradient‐echo MRI.Assessment31P FID‐MRSI of the abdomen (including the pancreas and liver) was performed with a nominal voxel size of 20 mm (isotropic). For repeatability measurements, healthy subjects were scanned twice on the same day. The patient was only scanned once. Test–retest 31P MRSI data of pancreas and liver voxels (segmented on 1H MRI) of healthy subjects were quantified by fitting in the time domain and signal amplitudes were normalized to γ‐adenosine triphosphate. In addition, the PME/PDE ratio was calculated. Metabolite levels were averaged over all voxels within the pancreas, right liver lobe and left liver lobe, respectively.Statistical TestsRepeatability of test–retest data from healthy pancreas was assessed by paired t‐tests, Bland–Altman analyses, and calculation of the intrasubject coefficients of variation (CoVs). Significant differences between healthy pancreas and right and left liver lobes were assessed with a two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. A P‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe intrasubject CoVs for PME, PDE, and PME/PDE in healthy pancreas were below 20%. Furthermore, PME and PME/PDE were significantly higher in pancreas compared to liver. In the patient with pancreatic cancer, qualitatively, elevated relative PME signals were observed in comparison with healthy pancreas.Data ConclusionIn vivo 31P MRSI of the human healthy pancreas and in pancreatic cancer may be feasible at 7 T.Evidence Level3Technical EfficacyStage 2