title: Gadolinium-DOTA enhanced MR imaging of intracranial lesions.
abstract: Gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (Gd-DOTA) is the first of a new class of macrocyclic paramagnetic magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents (gadolinium cryptelates) to be used in clinical practice. Gadolinium-DOTA possesses relaxation properties similar to those of gadolinium diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). We report our initial clinical experience in 38 patients with intracranial lesions studied with MR before and after injection of Gd-DOTA. Diseases included primary and metastatic brain tumor, cerebral infarct, vascular malformation, meningioma, hemangiopericytoma, schwannoma, and pituitary macroadenoma. Gadolinium-DOTA was administered intravenously in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight. All studies were performed on a superconductive 0.5 T system. As compared to noncontrast T1- and T2-weighted images (WI), Gd-DOTA enhanced T1 WI were useful in defining the anatomy of malignant intraaxial tumors (high-grade glioma, metastasis) and in tumor versus edema differentiation. Low-grade gliomas did not enhance; in these cases the precontrast T2-weighted sequence was found to be more informative. In post-operative patients, Gd-DOTA allowed us to demonstrate residual tumor or tumor recurrence. Extraaxial tumors (meningioma, hemangiopericytoma, neuroma) enhanced markedly, presumably reflecting tumor vascularity. In our experience, the use of Gd-DOTA improves the anatomic definition of cerebral lesions and in some cases increases both MR sensitivity and specificity. We found Gd-DOTA to be a well tolerated and effective paramagnetic contrast agent. Gadolinium-DOTA can be considered as an alternative water-soluble MR contrast agent to Gd-DTPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Degryse
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gheuens
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Vyve
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De La Porte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selosse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van de Heyning
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: De Schepper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009463:Neuroma / Q000175:diagnosis; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate; D005682:Gadolinium