Abstract
Although the diagnostic application of echoplanar imaging (EPI) has until now been limited, recent technical advances provide anatomic resolution and signal-to-noise ratios comparable to that of conventional MR imaging. The purpose of this study was to investigate approved aqueous gastrointestinal contrast agents for use in abdominal EPI. Conventional and echoplanar MR imaging experiments were performed with 1.0 Tesla whole body systems. Phantom measurements of Gastrografin, barium sulfate suspension, oral gadopentetate dimeglumine, water, and saline were performed. Signal intensity (SI) of aqueous oral barium sulfate and iodine based CT contrast agents was lower on conventional spin-echo (SE), Flash, and Turbo-Flash images than on EP images. The contrast agents exhibited higher SI on T2-weighted SE PE images and TI-time dependence on inversion recovery EP-images. The barium sulfate suspension was administered in volunteers to obtain information about bowel lumen enhancement and susceptibility artifacts. Oral administration of the aqueous barium sulfate suspension increased bowel lumen signal and reduced susceptibility artifacts. Approved aqueous gastrointestinal contrast media or flavored saline with long relaxation times may serve as safe, simple, and effective gastrointestinal contrast agents in abdominal EPI.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cohen MS, Weisskoff RM (1991) Ultra-fast imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 9: 1
Saini S, Modic MT, Hamm B, Hahn PF (1991) Advances in contrast-enhanced MR imaging. AJR 156: 235
Brasch RC (1992) New directions in the development of MR imaging contrast media. Radiology 183: 1
Patter RM, Moss AA, Fenton TA, Elliot S (1992) OMR, a positive bowel contrast agent for abdominal and pelvic MR imaging: Safety and imaging characteristics. JMRI 2: 25
Mansfield P (1977) Multi-planar image formation using NMR spin echoes. J Physics C: 10: L55
Pykett IL, Rzedzian RR (1987) Instant images of the body by magnetic resonance. Magn Reson Med 5: 563
Edelman RR, Wallner B, Singer A, Atkinson DJ, Saini S (1990) Segmented Turbo-Flash: Method for breath-hold MR imaging of the liver with flexible contrast. Radiology 177: 515
Moss AA, Kressel HY, Korobkin H, Goldberg HI, Rohlfing BM, Brasch RC (1978) The effect of gastrografin and glucagon on CT scanning of the pancreas: A blind clinical trial. Radiology 126: 711
Weinmann HJ, Brasch RC, Press WR, Wesbey GE (1984) Characteristics of Gd-DTPA complex: a potential NMR contrast agent. AJR 142: 619
Laniado M, Kornmesser W, Hamm B, Clauss W, Weinmann HJ, Felix R (1988) MR imaging of the gastrointestinal tract: Value of GD-DTPA. AJR 150: 817
Kaminsky S, Laniado M, Gogoll M, Kornmesser W, Clauss W, Felix R (1992) Orale Kontrastmittel für die magnetische Resonanztomographie des Abdomens. Klinische Prüfung der Verträglichkeit von Gadolinium-DTPA. Fortschr Röntgenstr 156: 17
Bruder H, Fischer H, Reinfelder H.-E., Schmitt F (1992) Image reconstruction for echo-planar imaging with n onequidistant k-space sampling. Magn Reson Med 23: 311
Armitage P, Berry G (1987) Statistical methods in medical research. Blackwell, Oxford
Hahn PF, Stark DD, Saini S, Lewis JM, Wittenberg J, Ferrucci JT (1987) Ferrite particles for bowel contrast in MR imaging: Design issues and feasibility studies. Radiology 164: 37
Kaminsky S, Laniado M, Gogoll M,et al. (1991) Gadopentetate dimeglumine as a bowel contrast agent: Safety and efficacy. Radiology 178: 503
Reimer P, Saini S, Hahn PF, Mueller PR, Brady TJ, Cohen MS (1992) Techniques for high-resolution echoplanar MR imaging of the pancreas. Radiology 182: 175
Hahn PF, Saini S, Cohen MS, Goldberg M, Reimer P, Mueller PR (1992) Anaqueous gastrointestinal contrast agent for use in echo-planar MR imaging. Magn Reson Med 25: 380
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: P. Reimer
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reimer, P., Schmitt, F., Ladebeck, R. et al. Evaluation of potential gastrointestinal contrast agents for echoplanar MR imaging. Eur. Radiol. 3, 487–492 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169595
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169595