An oxygen consuming phantom for simulating oxygen perfusion in tissue using F MRI oximetry

Introduction Tumor hypoxia is well known to reduce cancer treatment efficacy [1]. Hypoxic tumor cells, which have decreased oxygen levels (pO2), are more resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Dissolved oxygen influences the F magnetic resonance relaxation times of perfluorocarbons [2]. This property has been used in animal studies to image tumor oxygenation [3]. However, validation of pO2-measurements in vivo is difficult. In this study a reproducible phantom, simulating well perfused oxygen consuming tissue, is presented. The phantom consists of a hemodialysis filter of which the outer compartment is filled with a gelatin matrix containing viable yeast cells.