A groundbreaking mesothelioma imaging study published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging demonstrates that dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI pharmacokinetic analysis may be able to detect small-volume pleural malignancies. These findings mean that the technology may offer a chance for earlier diagnosis of the aggressive asbestos-related disease, when surgical intervention may offer better outcomes.
Mesothelioma Detection Study Analyzes Advanced MRI Techniques
Led by Dr. Gordon W. Cowell at the University of Glasgow, the researchers conducted a retrospective feasibility study of 58 patients at risk of mesothelioma or other pleural malignancies. The patients were seen between January 2013 and October 2016, and each underwent a diagnostic procedure called dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. In analyzing the use of pharmacokinetic parameter computation in these patients, the group found they were able to use pharmacokinetic metrics—including volume transfer constant, fractional volume, and rate constant—in 47 of 58 patients (81%), demonstrating the opportunity for small-volume disease detection offered by the technique.
Among the 29 patients whose studies showed minimal pleural thickening, 24 had pleural mesothelioma, and 20 of these 24 had stage I disease. The patient cohort represents precisely the population where improved imaging could make the greatest impact, as early-stage mesothelioma patients are the ones most likely to benefit from aggressive surgical interventions like pleurectomy/decortication.
Mesothelioma Pharmacokinetic Analysis Shows Promise for Early Detection
The mesothelioma imaging research revealed that combining pharmacokinetic thresholds with other factors dramatically improved the imaging study’s sensitivity and negative predictive value. Though this came at the cost of reduced specificity, the finding suggests that the combined approach could effectively rule out malignancy but may also yield more false-positive results that require additional investigation.
Imaging Advances Could Enable Earlier Mesothelioma Intervention
The study’s patient population was typical of those at risk of mesothelioma, with 88% being male and having a median age of 76 years. The predominance of stage I mesothelioma cases identified in the cohort makes it clear that pharmacokinetic MRI analysis offers real potential clinical value for detecting early-stage mesothelioma when minimal pleural thickening is present — a common scenario where conventional imaging often fails to make this important distinction, and where earlier detection could enable more patients to undergo surgery with a real chance of improving survival outcomes.
If you or someone you love is at risk of mesothelioma, this study could prove vital to their future. If you’ve been diagnosed with this rare and deadly asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
