ISSN:
1352-8661
Keywords:
echo planar imaging
;
abdominal organs
;
gadolinium- dota
;
contrast enhancement dynamics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Objectives: After I.V. administration of gadolinium-DOTA, the early contrast enhancement pattern and related signal-intensity (SI) changes in normal abdominal organs (kidney, spleen, liver) are evaluated over the first 4 min by using ultrafast spin-echo echo planar imaging (SE-EPI). Methods: On a 1.5-T magnetic resonance unit ultrafast EPI of the upper abdomen was performed in 12 patients in order to show the contrast enhancement pattern and related measurable SI changes onT 1 andT 2-weighted (w) images over the first 4 min after I.V. bolus injection of 0.1 mmol kg−1 gadolinium (Gd)-DOTA in the spleen, liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla. A TR/TE of 500/44 or 45 ms inT 1w SE-EPI and a TR/TE of 2000/80 or 100 ms inT 2-w SE-EPI were used. Results: Typical time-dependent SI changes were noticed onT 1w images: Subsequent to a SI increase in the renal cortex (starting 7 s after the I.V. injection of Gd-DOTA) SI increased first in the outer renal medulla (6 s later) and then in the inner renal medulla (21 s later). A SI increase was observed in the spleen (starting after 15 s) and in the liver (starting 7 s later). OnT 2-w images, a SI decrease in the renal cortex (starting after 14 s) was followed by migration of a “dark band” from the outer (after 46 s) to the inner medulla (after 70 s). Only minimal changes were noticed in the spleen and liver. Conclusions: Ultrafast SE-EPI following I.V. bolus injection of Gd-DOTA enables the observation of the very early contrast agent kinetics in various abdominal organs. The associated SI changes onT 1- andT 2- SE EPI are related to organ perfusion and contrast agent tissue concentration and biodistribution.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01753067
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