Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Local Soft Tissue Inflammation Using Gadolinium-DTPA

Abstract

Chemical inflammation was induced subcutaneously in 10 rats using carrageenan mucopolysaccharide. Dual spin echo (SE) imaging of inflammatory loci was performed employing a 0.35 tesla resistive magnet. In addition, gadolinium-DTPA was administrated intravenously into 5 rats to evaluate the potential benefits of paramagnetic contrast medium for the detection and characterization of inflammatory loci. T2 weighted SE images demonstrated the edematous lesions as zones of high intensity. This was attributed to the increased relaxation times of lesions when compared to the adjacent soft tissue. The inflammation was also delineated on T1 weighted SE images, but only after injection of paramagnetic Gd-DTPA. Carrageenan mucopolysaccharide-induced lesions provide a useful experimental model for in vivo evaluation of soft tissue inflammation using magnetic resonance imaging. No special benefit of paramagnetic contrast enhancement was demonstrated in this model of local edema.

A MRI spatial mapping technique for microvascular permeability and tissue blood volume based on macromolecular contrast agent distribution

“…A rodent model of R3230 mammary adenocarcinoma represented neoplasm, an intramuscular sterile abscess represented inflammation, and a myocardium reperfusion injury model represented ischemic disease. All of the above disease models have been previously shown to increase transendothelial microvascular permeability (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). This new mapping technique was implemented on dynamic MRI intensity data enhanced with a prototype blood-pool contrast agent, albumin-(Gd-DTPA),,, a macromolecule that has been shown to be useful for quantification of fractional blood volume and endothelial permeability in selected regions (21)(22)(23).…”

Gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal infectious processes

“…Paajanen and colleagues demonstrated diffuse gadolinium enhancement in chemically-induced cellulitis in rats [5]. In a second animal study, peripheral gadolinium enhancement on MRI was correlated to histologic demonstration of inflamed cellular rims around pyogenic and chemically-induced intramuscular abscesses [6].…”

“…Animal and early clinical studies have demonstrated gadolinium enhancement in inflamed soft tissues and bones, suggesting that gadolinium-DTPA might be useful in evaluating infectious diseases of the peripheral musculoskeletal system [3][4][5][6]. However, no study has shown that gadolinium-DTPA enhancement identifies more lesions than nonenhanced MRI, nor has gadolinium-DTPA been shown to reliably distinguish infection from noninfectious causes of edema in the limbs.…”

Focal Pyomyositis of the Perisciatic Muscles in Children

“…Animal and clinical studies have shown gadolinium enhancement in inflamed soft tissues, intramuscular abscesses, and areas affected by cellulitis [6,7].…”