Tumor imaging with a macromolecular paramagnetic contrast agent: gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated magnetic resonance (MR) contrast enhancement of tumor tissue following injection of the macromolecular conjugate, gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine.


METHODS
T1-weighted MR imaging scans were performed on female Fisher-344 rats with subcutaneously implanted mammary adenocarcinoma tumors. Following the baseline scan, gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine or gadopentetate dimeglumine was injected at a dose of 0.1 mmol gadolinium per kilogram.


RESULTS
Gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine injection resulted in a maximum enhancement of tumor contrast of 310 +/- 60% (n = 7). Tumor tissue remained enhanced and well defined for several days after gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine injection. Gadopentetate dimeglumine injection at the same dose resulted in a 70 +/- 25% (n = 4) maximal tumor enhancement and a corresponding 25 +/- 4% muscle enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadopentetate dimeglumine-polylysine provides higher, more sustained tumor contrast than does gadopentetate dimeglumine for the same dosage of gadolinium.
Opsahl
L R
LR
General Electric Company, Corporate Research and Development Center, Schenectady, NY 12309, USA.
Uzgiris
E E
EE
Vera
D R
DR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011107:Polylysine; C064954:gadopentetate dimeglumine polylysine; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA