Method and apparatus for diagnosis of tumor activity using tumor interstitial fluid pressure

摘要

A scanning apparatus, is used to effect multiple images of a tumor in which a contrast agent has been localized as a detectable marker over a selected time to map the change in the imaged marker. The rate of change in the imaged marker and/or contrast intensity of the dyed tissues is used to assess tumor aggressiveness and as an early predictor of response to cancer therapy. In particular, following the marking of tumor or cancerous tissues by the initial localization of an imageable contrast agent, the rate of change in the volume and/or area of the imaged marker is used to provide an indication of tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP).

主权项

1. A method for the diagnosis of tumor activity and/or a tumor property in a region of interest in a patient, said region of interest including tumor and surrounding tissues, said method including,
injecting a contrast agent which is detectable by an imaging apparatus as a marker into said patient, said contrast agent selected to initially concentrate in tumor tissues following injection, activating said imaging apparatus to obtain a first image of said region of interest at a first period of time, said first image including a first imaged marker representative of a distribution of said contrast agent in said tumor and surrounding tissues, activating said imaging apparatus to obtain a second image of said region of interest at a second subsequent period of time, said second image including a second imaged marker representative of a distribution of said contrast agent in said tumor and surrounding tissues, comparing at least one geometric property of the first imaged marker at said first period of time and said second imaged marker at said second period of time to identify a rate of change in the distribution of the contrast agent in the region of interest between the first and second subsequent period of time, and correlating the rate of change in the distribution of the contrast agent to at least one of tumor interstitial fluid pressure and tumor fluid flux, and wherein the diagnosis of tumor activity comprises classifying said tumor as a benign tumor or a malignant tumor based on the rate of change in distribution of the contrast agent.