Fast gradient echo MR imaging of the liver enhanced with superparamagnetic iron oxide.
The purpose of this study was to develop a breath-hold technique for hepatic imaging using SPIO-enhanced gradient echo. Pre- and post-SPIO driven equilibrium fast gradient echo scans were performed on five healthy subjects. Scan parameters were established to emphasize large pre-/post-signal differences while maintaining a scan time conducive to breath-hold. Hepatic post-SPIO signal reduction was at least fifty percent with diagnostic image quality in all subjects. SPIO-enhanced gradient echo provides slightly less hepatic signal reduction to spin echo techniques but can be performed within a single breath-hold. This technique may be advantageous over SE in assessing hepatic pathology in subjects unable to lay motionless for prolonged intervals, such as children.
Fishbein
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Long
F
F
Smith
M
M
D000328:Adult; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide