Tumor angiography using high-resolution, three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of gadopentetate dimeglumine and a macromolecular blood-pool contrast agent.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the peritumoral vascular definition in rats using either a paramagnetic extracellular or a macromolecular contrast medium in combination with high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


METHODS
High-resolution, three-dimensional spoiled gradient-refocused acquisition in a steady state (SPGR) images were acquired from tumor-bearing Fischer-344 rats before, immediately after, and again 40 min after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.1 mmol Gd/kg; n = 10) and albumin-(Gd-DTPA)30 (0.05 mmol Gd/kg; n = 5). Small peritumoral vessels were analyzed semiquantitatively on maximum intensity projection angiograms using a 4-point scoring system; quantitative analyses included signal-to-background ratios (SBRs) and signal-to-noise ratios.


RESULTS
Gadopentetate dimeglumine caused a transient and low-scoring (0.2 +/- 0.1, SBR = 1.9 +/- 0.2) vessel definition but strong rim enhancement (score = 1.4 +/- 0.2). Albumin-(Gd-DTPA)30 produced persistent, high-quality angiograms (score = 2.6 +/- 0.2, SBR = 7.4 +/- 0.2) but minimal rim enhancement (score = 0.3 +/- 0.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Albumin-(Gd-DTPA)30 combined with high-resolution MR imaging produces time-persistent, detailed angiographic definition of peritumoral vessels. Vascular maps obtained with gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement are not time persistent or of equal quality.
Schwickert
H C
HC
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Mainz, Germany.
Stiskal
M
M
van Dijke
C F
CF
Roberts
T P
TP
Mann
J S
JS
Demsar
F
F
Brasch
R C
RC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis; D000418:Albumins; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C058946:albumin-(gadolinium-DTPA); D019786:Gadolinium DTPA