Processing mri data for analysis of tumors

A data processing apparatus for processing MRI data for analysis of tumors, the data processing apparatus comprising:

• an MRI data receiving module for receiving dynamic contrast enhanced MRI data and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI data for a volume of the patient's body including a tumor;
• a volume of interest identification module for generating and/or receiving data identifying a volume of interest enclosing the tumor;
• and
• an MRI data processing module for processing the MRI data for the volume of interest and being arranged to:
• identify one or more parameters relating to the transverse relaxation rate and/or to dynamic changes in the transverse relaxation rate,
• compare the one or more parameters to previously obtained similar parameters for multiple other patients having similar tumors that are either known to exhibit lymph node metastasis or are known not to exhibit lymph node metastasis, and
• thereby determine if the MRI data indicates that the tumor is at a greater risk of exhibiting lymph node metastasis or at a lesser risk of exhibiting lymph node metastasis.

A computer programme product containing instructions that, when executed, will configure a data processing apparatus to:

• receive dynamic contrast enhanced MRI data and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI data for a volume of the patient's body including a tumor;
• receive data identifying a volume of interest enclosing the tumor;
• process the MRI data for the volume of interest in order to identify one or more parameters relating to the transverse relaxation rate and/or to dynamic changes in the transverse relaxation rate;
• compare the one or more parameters to previously obtained similar parameters for multiple other patients having similar tumors that are either known to exhibit lymph node metastasis or are known not to exhibit lymph node metastasis;
• and
• thereby determine if the MRI data indicates that the tumor is at a greater risk of exhibiting lymph node metastasis or at a lesser risk of exhibiting lymph node metastasis.