MR enhancement of brain lesions: increased contrast dose compared with magnetization transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare image contrast and lesion conspicuity of enhancing intracranial lesions obtained with T1-weighted and magnetization transfer T1-weighted spin-echo sequences after administration of standard (0.1 mmol/kg body weight) and triple doses of gadobutrol.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with a total of 34 enhancing intracranial lesions were studied with T1-weighted and magnetization transfer T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging. An incremental dose technique was used with intravenous injections of 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/kg body weight gadobutrol. Lesion-to-white matter contrast and white matter-to-edema contrast were calculated.


RESULTS
The lesion-to-white matter contrast of the magnetization transfer T1-weighted studies was significantly higher than that of the T1-weighted studies when identical doses of gadobutrol were compared. The lesion-to-white matter contrast was not significantly different on the triple-dose T1-weighted study and the standard-dose magnetization transfer T1-weighted study. Two lesions were visible only on the standard-dose magnetization transfer T1-weighted and the triple-dose studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Standard-dose magnetization transfer T1-weighted and triple-dose T1-weighted spin-echo MR studies are equally well suited to increase the lesion-to-white matter contrast in patients with enhancing intracranial lesions. Triple-dose magnetization transfer T1-weighted studies further increase lesion-to-white matter contrast but do not show additional lesions.
Knauth
M
M
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Germany.
Forsting
M
M
Hartmann
M
M
Heiland
S
S
Balzer
T
T
Sartor
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol; D005682:Gadolinium