The clinical utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) was originally established for acute stroke; however, recent studies suggest that DWI may be more sensitive and specific for the detection and staging of malignant tumors than either computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US). We herein present 4 cases of pancreatic cancer that were detected by DWI and subsequently discuss the efficacy of DWI for the diagnosis pancreatic cancer. We performed both DWI and dynamic CT examinations on 4 patients with pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVES: CpG island hypermethylation causes gene silencing and could be decisive in prostate carcinogenesis and progression. We investigated its role at multiple gene sites during prostate carcinogenesis. METHODS: A quantitative, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the hypermethylation patterns at nine gene loci (Annexin2, APC, EDNRB, GSTP1, PTGS2, MDR1, RARbeta, Reprimo, and TIG1) in 80 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and 26 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

We measured metabolites in large tumors of the female pelvis (23 cases total: 6 malignant cases, 17 benign cases) using single-voxel proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and evaluated the clinical significance of this method in the differential diagnosis of female pelvic tumors. The characteristically obtained signal was lactate, which was detected not only in all the malignant tumors but also in some of the benign tumors.

Noninvasive imaging at the molecular level is an emerging field in biomedical research. This paper introduces a new technology synergizing two leading imaging methodologies: positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although the value of PET lies in its high-sensitivity tracking of biomarkers in vivo, it lacks resolving morphology. MRI has lower sensitivity, but produces high soft-tissue contrast and provides spectroscopic information and functional MRI (fMRI). We have developed a three-dimensional animal PET scanner that is built into a 7-T MRI.

Pancreatic cancer has an almost uniformly grim prognosis. Early detection has the potential to improve survival, however. One promising approach to increase detection rates is the use of MR imaging at 3T. Imaging at 3T improves temporal or spatial resolution for pancreatic evaluation. Known challenges of imaging at 3T, such as increased power deposition and B1 field inhomogeneity, are not significant limitations for pancreatic imaging. Preliminary results suggest that the signal-to-noise ratio can be as much as twice as high as at 1.5T, particularly after contrast administration.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) along with MRI has emerged as a promising tool in diagnosis and potentially screening for prostate cancer. Surprisingly little work, however, has been done in the area of automated quantitative analysis of MRS data for identifying likely cancerous areas in the prostate. In this paper we present a novel approach that integrates a manifold learning scheme (spectral clustering) with an unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm to identify spectra corresponding to cancer on prostate MRS.

The ability to manipulate genes coupled with having mapped the genome of many species opens up the postgenomic era. One now needs the ability to study the effects of the molecules encoded by these genes on an animal's development, biochemical processes, and physiological make up in-vivo. Such studies require in-vivo techniques capable of imaging molecular expression. Only MRI has the potential and capabilities of imaging anatomy, function, and molecular expression. One type of functional and molecular MR imaging uses contrast agents. MR techniques require the use of amplification systems.

By combining the sensing capabilities of nanoscale magnetic relaxation switches (MRS) within multi-reservoir structures, a potentially powerful implantable multiplexed sensor has been developed. MRS are magnetic nanoparticles that decrease the transverse relaxation time (T(2)) of water in the presence of an analyte. The switches encased in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) devices with polycarbonate membranes (10 nm pores) have demonstrated in vitro sensing of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG-beta), which is elevated in testicular and ovarian cancer.