Enhancement Effects and Relaxivities of Gadolinium-DTPA at 1.5 versus 3 Tesla: A Phantom Study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the diŠerence in enhancement eŠects and relaxivities of the gadolinium chelate at 1.5 and 3 Tesla (T) and to elucidate the contribution of the high magneticˆeld to contrast enhancement in spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GRE) images.Methods: Phantoms containing water with or without gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) at diŠerent concentrations were scanned using 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners of the same manufacturer and under the same temperature conditions and scanning parameters. Relaxivities of gadolinium, R 1 and R 2 , were estimated from serial T 1 and T 2 values of the phantoms using linear regression. Contrast enhancement ratios in SE and GRE T 1 -weighted images were compared at 1.5 and 3T.Results: The R 1 and R 2 of Gd-DTPA at 1.5 and 3T were 4.79 and 5.14, and 4.50 and 5.09, respectively. Although the relaxivities at 3T were slightly lower than those at 1.5T, the contrast enhancement ratio improved in both SE and GRE images as a result of T 1 prolongation of the water at 3T.Conclusion: The decrease in relaxivities of the Gd-DTPA at 3T appears to be so small that T 1 prolongation of the water improves contrast enhancement, suggesting a potential clinical advantage in administration of Gd-DTPA at highˆeld strength.

High resolution myocardial magnetic resonance stress perfusion imaging at 3 T using a 1 M contrast agent

“…Imaging techniques with strong T1-weighting which rely on the application of gadolinium-based contrast agents take particular advantage from an increase of field strength due to the prolongation of the longitudinal relaxation time at 3 T [12,13]. The result is a markedly improved contrast between unenhanced and contrast-enhanced tissue.…”

“…Strongly T1-weighted sequence techniques relying on the application of paramagnetic contrast media particularly benefit from increased signal intensity at higher field strength [12,13]. Consequently, cardiac MR imaging including morphology, perfusion, and viability, takes advantage of 3-T high field conditions [14][15][16].…”

Quantification of Gadolinium Concentration Using GRE and UTE Sequences

“…Moreover, since a correction of B1 inhomogeneity is necessary in order to collect the accurate R1 relaxation time, issues may arise, such as causing a delay in gathering MR images. Recently, research regarding quantification of gadolinium using phase information of gradient echo sequences (GRE) and quantification of high concentration using ultrashort echo time (UTE) are reported (6,7). However, those studies were conducted using a limited range of gadolinium concentration.…”

A Hyaluronic Acid-Chitosan-Gadolinium Nanosphere for Specific Tumor-Targeted MRI Contrast Agent

“…Based on previous studies, [29] receptor-mediated endocytosis, especially an interaction between HA and the CD44 receptor, was identified as the principal cellular uptake mechanism of HA-based nanosphere. Therefore, some cells with wide expression …”