The Clinical Application of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Canine Masses of Mesenchymal and Epithelial Origin: A Preliminary Case Series

Evaluating masses of mesenchymal and epithelial origin accurately using computed tomography (CT) has several limitations in dogs. This study aimed to present dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters to aid in improving the diagnostic accuracy for masses of mesenchymal and epithelial origin in veterinary medicine. Four dogs diagnosed with benign and malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS), cholesteatoma, or squamous cell carcinoma underwent CT, conventional MRI, and DCE-MRI. K^trans is a quantitative DCE-MRI parameter representing vascular permeability and tissue perfusion and is related to the potential for malignancy. Hemangiopericytomas (Grade II, STS) showed a higher K^trans than normal muscle tissue and myxosarcoma (Grade I, STS). Squamous cell carcinoma (a malignant epithelial tumor) also showed a higher K^trans than normal muscle tissue and cholesteatoma (a mass originating from keratinized squamous epithelium). These results suggest that higher K^trans values may indicate a greater likelihood that a lesion is more malignant. In conclusion, K^trans might be useful as a biomarker for evaluating the malignancy of a mass and as an indicator of lesion characteristics in dogs.