title: Diagnostic role of gadolinium-DTPA in pediatric neuroradiology. A retrospective review of 655 cases.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hackett
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA