PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether MR images after intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA can differentiate exudative and transudative pleural effusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 18 patients with ten exudative and eignt transudative pleural effusions diagnosed clinically and by thoracentesis. We analysed the relationship between T1 value(normalized to fat) and the ratio of effusion/serum protein of pleuraleffusion. We also assessed the contrast enhancement of exudative and transudative pleural effusion on T1 weighted SE images taken at 15 and 30 minutes after administration of Gd-DTPA. RESULTS: The relationship between the effusion/serum protein ratio and T1 value(normalized to fat) was statistically not significant(r=0.27, P=0.381).On precontrast spin-echo T1W1, mean signal intensity of the transudate was 0.18 (+/-0.04) and that of the exudatewas 0.24(+/-0.07), values which were not significant differences(P>0.05). Postcontrast mean signal intensities of transudates at 15 and 30 were 0.20+/- 0.06 and 0.26+/-0.08, respectively, values which were not significantly higherthan that of precontrast mean signal intensity(P<0.05). Postcontrast mean signal intensity values of exudative pleural effusions at 15 and 30 mimutes(0.32+/-0.06 and 0.39+/-0.06, respectively) were, on the other hand, significantly higher than that of precontrast mean signal intensity(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Postcontrast T1-weighted SE images at 15 and 30 minutes can be helpful in the differentiation of transudative and exudative pleural effusion.
Administration, Intravenous ; Exudates and Transudates ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion*

PURPOSE: Knee IVIR images were repeatedly obtained after intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine to evaluate the arthrographic effect and to determine the optimal scan timing and technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal Tl-weighted (650/15) sequences were repeated before and after intravenous gadolinium enhancement in 26 patients who were divided into exercise (14/26) and nonexercise (12/26) groups. Fourteen patients in exercise group were allowed to move the affected knee joint actively for 10 minutes immediately after the first post-enhancement scan and before repeating scans. The signal intensities in central and peripheral portions of the joint were measured and compared between these two groups. RESULTS: In all cases, enhancement of joint fluid began at peripheral portion and progressed toward central portion. The diffusion rate in exercise group was far faster than that in nonexercise group and homogeneous arthrographic image was revealed within 10 minutes after completion of joint movement. The arthrographic effect continued and the rate of signal decrease was quite slow. CONCLUSION: MR arthrographic image of knee joint can be obtained within 10 minutes after completion of a few minute exercise following intravenous injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Intravenous MR arthrography is expected to become an useful method as a convenient alternative to direct MR arthrography.
Administration, Intravenous ; Arthrography* ; Diffusion ; Gadolinium ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee*

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency and severity of acute adverse reactions to intravenous administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents using computerized reporting system at a single large academic institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed data from electronic hospital information system from October 2008 to December 2010. Reactions were classified as mild, moderate, or severe. We compared the frequency of adverse reactions among three contrast agents (Gd-BT-DO3A, Gd-DTPA and Gd-EOB-DTPA). RESULTS: The total number of administrated contrast agents was 33,600, and the number of administration of Gd-BT-DO3A, Gd-DTPA and Gd-EOB-DTPA were 20,824 (62%), 10,417 (31%) and 2,359 (7%), respectively. Total 39 adverse reactions were reported accounting for 0.1161% of all administrations. The incidences of adverse reactions were 0.1248% (26/39, 67%) for Gd-BT-DO3A, 0.0768% (8/39, 21%) for Gd-DTPA, and 0.2120% (5/39, 13%) for Gd-EOB-DTPA. The difference of frequencies of adverse reaction among three contrast agents was not significant. Most cases of the adverse effect were mild (35/39, 89.7%). Moderate and severe adverse reactions were encountered in two patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among Koreans, adverse effects were rare, and especially, moderate to severe adverse reactions were much rarer. There was no difference among the frequencies of adverse reactions caused by three different contrast agents.
Accounting ; Administration, Intravenous ; Contrast Media ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone and to evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the diagnosis of bone MFH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imagings of pathologically proven bone MFH in ten patients were reviewed. Enhanced study was also performed with Gd-DTPA. The MR images were evaluated for signal intensity, homogeneity, marginal definition, presence of internal septation, cortical destruction, soft tissue extension, joint involvement and contrast enhancement. RESULTS: Tumors showed iso- or slightly high signal intensity to muscle on T1-weighted images and heterogeneously high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Four cases showed poor-marginated borderon T2-weighted images and four cases had internal septa. Eight of nine patients with intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA showed contrast enhancement, five were heterogeneous and three were homogeneous. All cases showed cortical destruction and soft tissue extension. Five cases showed joint involvement. CONCLUSION: Bone MFH showed similar MR imaging findings of soft tissue MFH or other malignant bone tumors, but joint involvement was suggestive finding of bone MFH.
Administration, Intravenous ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Histiocytoma ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of 3D-TOF MR angiography (MRA) using Gadomer-17 with that using Gd-DTPA in a flow phantom model, and to present preliminary data about the proper dose concentration of Gadomer-17. In the visual analysis of vessel conspicuity, we compared the quality of pre- and post-contrast MIP images. For quantitative analysis, the signal intensities were measured in the axial base 3D-TOF images, and then the relative contrast enhancement was calculated. The results of our studies were that: 1. Maximal signal intensities were obtained at 1 mmol/L of Gadomer-17 and 4 mmol/L of Gd-DTPA. 2. Flow-related signal loss was decreased by Gd-DTPA proportional to the concentration, but Gadomer-17 did not show such a dose accumulative effect. In conclusion, after comparing the results of Gd-DTPA, it was clear that improved MRA images and higher signal intensities of vessels were obtained when lower concentrations of Gadomer-17 were used.
Comparative Study ; Contrast Media*/administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gadolinium DTPA/diagnostic use* ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of 3 dimensional-volume MR imaging technique for demonstrating the facial nerves and to describe MR findings in facial palsy patients and evaluate the significance of facial nerve enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the MR images of facial nerves obtained with 3 Dimensional-volume imaging technique before and after intravenous administration of Gadopentetate dimeglumine in 13 cases who had facial paralysis and 33 cases who had no facial palsy. And we analyzed the detectabilty of anatomical segments of intratemporal facial nerves and facial nerve enhancement. RESULTS: When the 3 Dimensional-volume MR images of 46 nerves were analyzed subjectively, the nerve courses of 43(93%) of 46 nerves were effectively demonstrated on 3 Dimensional-volume MR images. Internal acoustic canal portions and geniculate ganglion of facial nerve were well visualized on axial images and tympanic and mastold segments were well depicted on oblique sagittal images. 10 of 13 patients(77%) were visibly enhanced along at least one segment of the facial nerve with swelling or thickening, and nerves of 8 of normal 33 cases(24%) were enhanced without thickening or swelling. CONCLUSION: MR findings of facial nerve paralysis is asymmetrical thickening of facial nerve with contrast enhancement. The 3 Dimensional-volume MR imaging technique should be a useful study for the evaluation of intratemporal facial nerve disease.
Acoustics ; Administration, Intravenous ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; Facial Nerve* ; Facial Paralysis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Geniculate Ganglion ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Paralysis

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of two contrast agents, Gd-DTPA and HSA-Gd-DTPA, in magnetic resonance (MR) lymphography.

METHODSTwelve New-Zealand rabbits were randomized into Gd-DTPA and HSA-Gd-DTPA groups with subcutaneous (interdigital skin fold) injection of the two contrast agents (0.2 ml of 0.5 mmol/L Gd(3+)) for MR lymphography of the popliteal lymph nodes examined in the axial and sagital orientation. T(1)-weighted, T1-weighted fat suppressed, and T(2)-weighted spin-echo (SE) images of the lymph nodes were obtained in plain scans. The post-contrast scanning started at 30 min, 1 h and 3 h after Gd-DTPA administration and at 10 min, 30 min and 60 min after HSA-Gd-DTPA injection to obtain T(1)-weighted images with identical imaging parameters. The signal intensity of popliteal lymph node was measured and the enhancement rate calculated.

RESULTSAfter subcutaneous injection, Gd-DTPA quickly entered blood circulation to result in obvious enhancement of the anterior-tibial vein and the urine and also in heterogeneous enhancement of the popliteal lymph nodes. HSA-Gd-DTPA did not enter the blood, causing obvious homogeneous enhancement of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. HSA-Gd-DTPA resulted in higher enhancement rate than Gd-DTPA, and the enhancement rate in Gd-DTPA group decreased with time as opposed to that of the HSA-Gd-DTPA group.

CONCLUSIONHSA-Gd-DTPA has better performance than Gd-DTPA in MR lymphography after subcutaneous administration.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Gadolinium DTPA ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Serum Albumin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

This study examined the corneal permeability of topical eye drop solutions added with various corneal penetrating accelerators and gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the random digits table: Gd-DTPA group, in which the rabbits received 23.45% Gd-DTPA; hyaluronic acid group, in which 23.45% Gd-DTPA plus 0.2% hyaluronic acid was administered; azone group, in which 23.45% Gd-DTPA with 0.2% azone was given. Fifty microliters of the eye drops was instilled into the conjunctive sac every 5 min, for a total of 6 applications in each group. Contrast medium signals in the cornea, anterior chamber, posterior chamber, and vitreous body were scanned successively by MRI. The morphology and cell density of the corneal endothelium were examined before and 24 h after the treatment. The results showed that the residence time of Gd-DTPA in the conjunctival sac in the hyaluronic acid and azone groups was longer than that in the Gd-DTPA group. The signals in the anterior chamber of the Gd-DTPA and hyaluronic acid groups were increased slightly, and those in the azone group strengthened sharply. The signal intensity continuously rose over 80 min before reaching plateau. The strengthening rate of signals in the anterior chamber was 19.63% in the Gd-DTPA group, 53.42% in the sodium hyaluronate group, and 226.94% in the azone group. No signal was detected in the posterior chamber or vitreous body in all the 3 groups. Corneal morphology and cell density did not show any significant changes after the treatment in all the 3 groups. It was concluded that azone can significantly improve the corneal permeability of drugs that are similar to Gd-DTPA in molecular weight and molecular size, and MRI is a noninvasive technique that can dynamically detect eye drop metabolism in real time.
Animals ; Azepines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Cornea ; metabolism ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Permeability ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the time-intensity curves acquired by test and main dose contrast injections for MR angiography are similar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 11 patients, repeated contrast-enhanced 2D-turbo-FLASH scans with 1-sec interval were obtained. Both test and main dose time-intensity curves were acquired from the abdominal aorta, and the parameters of time-intensity curves for the test and main boluses were compared. The parame-ters used were arterial and venous enhancement times, arterial peak enhance-ment time, arteriovenous circulation time, enhancement duration and enhance-ment expansion ratio. RESULTS: Between the main and test boluses, arterial and venous enhance-ment times and arteriovenous circulation time showed statistically significant correlation (p < 0.01), with correlation coefficients of 0.95, 0.92 and 0.98 respectively. Although the enhancement duration was definitely greater than infusion time, reasonable measurement of the end enhancement point in the main bolus was impossible. CONCLUSION: Only arterial and venous enhancement times and arteriovenous circulation time of the main bolus could be predicted from the test-bolus results. The use of these reliable parameters would lead to improvements in the scan timing method for MR angiography.
Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal/anatomy & histology ; Contrast Media/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/*administration & dosage/diagnostic use ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods ; Male ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the time-intensity curves acquired by test and main dose contrast injections for MR angiography are similar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 11 patients, repeated contrast-enhanced 2D-turbo-FLASH scans with 1-sec interval were obtained. Both test and main dose time-intensity curves were acquired from the abdominal aorta, and the parameters of time-intensity curves for the test and main boluses were compared. The parame-ters used were arterial and venous enhancement times, arterial peak enhance-ment time, arteriovenous circulation time, enhancement duration and enhance-ment expansion ratio. RESULTS: Between the main and test boluses, arterial and venous enhance-ment times and arteriovenous circulation time showed statistically significant correlation (p < 0.01), with correlation coefficients of 0.95, 0.92 and 0.98 respectively. Although the enhancement duration was definitely greater than infusion time, reasonable measurement of the end enhancement point in the main bolus was impossible. CONCLUSION: Only arterial and venous enhancement times and arteriovenous circulation time of the main bolus could be predicted from the test-bolus results. The use of these reliable parameters would lead to improvements in the scan timing method for MR angiography.
Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal/anatomy & histology ; Contrast Media/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/*administration & dosage/diagnostic use ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography/*methods ; Male ; Time Factors