Diagnostic role of gadolinium-DTPA in pediatric neuroradiology. A retrospective review of 655 cases.
We retrospectively reviewed the findings in 655 consecutive young patients who underwent contrast-enhanced MR examinations (1.5T) of the head or spine. Their ages ranged from 4 months to 20 years (mean 10 years). There was a 1.7% incidence of minor adverse reactions to gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA, none of which required treatment; no serious adverse reactions were encountered. Based on the radiologic diagnosis the patients were divided into three groups: (1) normal, (2) CNS neoplasm, (3) abnormal but not neoplasm. There were 178 patients thought to have CNS neoplasms and of these 156 (88%) enhanced. Of 124 histologically confirmed neoplasms 115 (93%) showed enhancement after Gd-DTPA. Eight children had histologically confirmed spinal neoplasms; 5 of 6 neurofibromas and 2 ependymomas enhanced. In the 216 patients with abnormalities thought not to be neoplastic, the enhancement rate was 11%; most of the enhancing lesions were vascular malformations. There were very few examples of inflammatory disease, acute trauma or stroke among our patients.
Ge
H L
HL
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania.
Hirsch
W L
WL
Wolf
G L
GL
Rubin
R A
RA
Hackett
R K
RK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA