Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Cancer. VI. Relationship Among Spin-Lattice Relaxation Times, Growth Rate, and Water Content of Morris Hepatomas

Abstract

Relaxation time(s) (T₁), growth rates, and the water content of six Morris hepatomas, several murine tumors, and a selection of normal tissues indicated that malignant tumors did not always exhibit longer T₁ values than any normal tissue, as previously suspected. This overlap raised the possibility of confusion between normal and malignant tissues studied by this method. Tissue T₁ values depended primarily on the hydration of the tissue and correlated well with water content determinations. A rough correlation of T₁ and water content with tumor growth rate was also observed.