Water Content and Proton Spin Relaxation Time for Neoplastic and Non-Neoplastic Tissues From Mice and Humans 2

Abstract

The spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of normal and malignant tissues from C3H/HeJ and CFWD mice and humans were measured; in mice, values were longer for malignant than normal tissues. Liver, spleen, and kidneys from animals with large, rapidly growing tumors had longer T₁ values than similar tissues from normal animals. There was no increase in T₁ for nonmalignant tissues from animals with large, slow-growing tumors. T₁ were related to tissue water content. Fetal and regenerating liver had longer T₁ values than normal liver. We suggest that T₁ are not likely to be of value in the diagnosis of cancer in an early stage.