Dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging in pediatric patients

Dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion MR (pMR) imaging provides hemodynamic information that complements traditional structural MR imaging and is becoming increasingly used in clinical practice to diagnose, manage, and monitor brain tumors in the pediatric patient group. pMR imaging-derived relative cerebral blood volume maps provide quantitative estimates of tumor vascularity that can be used to grade tumors, differentiate between different brain tumor types, and distinguish tumor from nonneoplastic lesions. Recognizing its strengths and potential pitfalls, pMR imaging can be used as part of the routine evaluation of brain tumors to improve diagnostic accuracy, detect and quantify tumor angiogenesis, and with further work, serve as an arbiter to assess existing and novel cancer therapies that target blood vessels.