Comparison of gadolinium-DTPA and polylysine-gadolinium-DTPA--enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of hepatocarcinoma in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA), a low-molecular-weight contrast agent, and polylysine-Gd-DTPA, a macromolecular contrast agent, in two types of hepatocarcinomas (HCC) in the rat.


METHODS
T1-weighted spin-echo images were obtained in 13 rats with chemically induced HCC and 26 rats with Novikoff HCC before and 3 minutes to 60 hours after administration of either Gd-DTPA or polylysine-Gd-DTPA.


RESULTS
Three minutes after polylysine-Gd-DTPA administration, the tumor-to-liver contrast of the two types of HCC increased significantly (positive contrast for chemically induced HCC and negative contrast for Novikoff HCC). At 30 minutes and 60 hours, the tumor-to-liver contrast remained above baseline values in chemically induced HCC and returned progressively to baseline values in Novikoff HCC. No significant increase in tumor-to-liver contrast was observed after Gd-DTPA administration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that polylysine-Gd-DTPA provides a higher and more prolonged increase in tumor-to-liver contrast than Gd-DTPA.
Grandin
C
C
Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
Van Beers
B E
BE
Demeure
R
R
Goudemant
J F
JF
Mottet
I
I
Pringot
J
J
D000792:Angiography; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C068674:polylysine-(Gd-DTPA); D011107:Polylysine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA