title: Superparamagnetic particles as an MRI contrast agent for the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: Non-biodegradable superparamagnetic particles containing magnetite were evaluated as a potential contrast agent for the gastrointestinal tract. The particles were administered to pigs perorally either suspended in water or mixed with food. The gastrointestinal tract structures were excellently depicted through a lowered signal intensity of their content in both T1 and T2 weighted images. Relatively large volumes with low particle concentration seemed to give a good contrast agent distribution, especially when the administration was extended over a period of time. Problems with artefacts and blurring in the images caused by a too high local concentration of the contrast agent should also be minimized by using low particle concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Akademiska Sjukhuset, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lönnemark
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemmingsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlsten
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holtz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaveness
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004064:Digestive System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D007501:Iron; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D010087:Oxides; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide