Quantitative 3D T1ρ Imaging for Monitoring Radiotherapy Treatment Response in Cervical Cancer

Motivation: Early assessment of the response to concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is crucial for the effective management of cervical cancer. Goal(s): To evaluate the response to CCRT in cervical cancer using quantitative 3D T1ρ imaging. Approach: 3D T1ρ imaging was performed on four cervical cancer patients before treatment and weekly during the five-week treatment period. The T1ρ values of the tumors were evaluated to monitor treatment response. Results: Significant decreases in T1ρ values in the tumors were observed starting in week 2 (4.91% decrease) and week 3 (18.81% decrease) during the five-week treatment. Impact: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using quantitative 3D T1ρ imaging to assess the response to concurrent chemoradiation in cervical cancer. T1ρ imaging can provide complementary information to help predict treatment response at early timepoints during chemoradiation to individualize treatment.