Fatty tissue on opposed-phase MR images: paradoxical suppression of signal intensity by paramagnetic contrast agents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate paradoxically decreased signal intensity on gadolinium-enhanced opposed-phase magnetic resonance (MR) images of fatty tissues.


METHODS
Unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced axial, opposed-phase, gradient-echo images were analyzed visually and with region-of-interest measurements. Tissues measured included adipose tissue (n = 10), angiomyolipomas (n = 8), and vertebral hemangiomas (n = 7). Additionally, a phantom of mayonnaise, soybean oil, agarose, and water (63% lipid signal) with variable concentrations of gadolinium chelate was imaged with similar technique.


RESULTS
After administration of gadolinium chelate, signal intensity reduction averaged 18% for adipose tissue, 34% (72-48 units) for predominately fatty angiomyolipomas, and 39% (85-52 units) for vertebral hemangiomas. Imaging of the phantom showed a maximum of 79% reduction in signal intensity with gadolinium chelate (227-47 units).


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium-enhanced opposed-phase images depict a significant loss in signal intensity in tissues with MR signal predominately from lipid. Gadolinium chelate increases the signal of water within fatty tissues, which increases the amount of lipid signal suppression due to destructive interference between water and lipid proton magnetizations.
Mitchell
D G
DG
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Stolpen
A H
AH
Siegelman
E S
ES
Bolinger
L
L
Outwater
E K
EK
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008536:Meglumine; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA