OMR, a positive bowel contrast agent for abdominal and pelvic MR imaging: safety and imaging characteristics.
To determine the safety and imaging characteristics of OMR--an effervescent solution of ferric ammonium citrate--as a bowel contrast agent, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T was performed in 29 volunteers. T1- and T2-weighted images of the upper abdomen and pelvis were obtained before and after oral administration of OMR at doses of 100-400 mg of iron in 300-600 mL of water. Respiratory-ordered phase encoding and presaturation pulses were used routinely for artifact suppression. All dose levels of OMR provided marking of the bowel by increasing intraluminal signal intensity; however, the degree and percentage of small bowel opacification appeared more prominent at higher dose levels of iron. Semisolid or watery bowel movements were noted in 31% of subjects, but no clinically important laboratory abnormalities were seen. OMR improved delineation of the head of the pancreas on T1-weighted images in 72% of subjects but was less useful in defining the body and tail. OMR is a safe and effective bowel contrast agent for MR imaging. Because artifacts due to movement of hyperintense bowel may degrade the images, OMR may be most useful on short TR/TE or fast imaging pulse sequences or when combined with antiperistaltic agents.
Patten
R M
RM
Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Moss
A A
AA
Fenton
T A
TA
Elliott
S
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D003287:Contrast Media