DCE-MRI Guided Embolization of the Hip: Initial Experience and MR Biomarkers of Treatment Response

Motivation: Demonstrate feasibility and efficacy of MRI-targeted embolization therapy for treatment of chronic hip pain due to mild-moderate osteoarthritis. Goal(s): Determine whether hip embolization therapy can be targeted using DCE-MRI arteriograms. Assess whether quantitative/semi-quantitative perfusion parameters can serve as biomarkers of treatment response. Approach: Six patients underwent add-on DCE-MR exams after diagnostic hip MRI. Five were eligible for embolization, and two underwent embolization therapy. Baseline perfusion parameters were correlated with HOOS survey scores, and changes to parameters post-embolization were evaluated. Results: Perfusion parameters correlate with hip pain/function scores both at baseline and after embolization; and may serve as biomarkers of baseline symptom severity/treatment response. Impact: Chronic hip pain commonly results from osteoarthritis and has few available treatments with demonstrated efficacy. Embolization is a novel therapy for chronic hip pain that has the potential to improve quality-of-life and delay/prevent end-stage arthritis treatments such as total-hip arthroplasty.