Extracranial lesions of the head and neck: preliminary experience with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.
The authors report initial experience with magnetic resonance imaging enhanced with gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in 27 patients with various extracranial lesions of the head and neck. Unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted images were compared with T1-weighted images obtained 3-30 minutes after Gd-DTPA administration. Overall, compared with precontrast T1- and T2-weighted images, Gd-DTPA improved the visibility of lesions in 11 and five of 27 patients, respectively. Gd-DTPA particularly improved the conspicuity of tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and tumors having perineural or intracranial extension. Gd-DTPA-enhanced images were equivalent to precontrast T1- and T2-weighted images in five and 13 patients, respectively, and inferior to them in nine and eight patients, respectively. Mixed results were obtained in two patients and one patient when Gd-DTPA-enhanced images were compared with T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. The authors conclude that Gd-DTPA has definite but limited uses in extracranial head and neck pathologic conditions and that more research is needed to evaluate particular applications.
Robinson
J D
JD
Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
Crawford
S C
SC
Teresi
L M
LM
Schiller
V L
VL
Lufkin
R B
RB
Harnsberger
H R
HR
Dietrich
R B
RB
Crim
J R
JR
Duckwiler
G R
GR
Spickler
E M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA