title: Extracranial lesions of the head and neck: preliminary experience with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Teresi
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lufkin
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Harnsberger
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Duckwiler
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Spickler
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA