title: [Macromolecular contrast media for MR mammography. A new approach to characterizing breast tumors].
abstract: The value of macromolecular contrast agents (MMCM) for the characterization of benign and malignant breast tumors will be demonstrated in this review. Animal studies suggest a high potential of MMCM to increase the specificity of MR-mammography. The concept of tumor differentiation is based on the pathological hyperpermeability of microvessels in malignant tumors. MMCM show a leak into the interstitium of carcinomas, whereas they are confined to the intravascular space in benign tumors. Capabilities and limitations of the MMCM-prototype. Albumin-Gd-DTPA, for breast tumor characterization will be summarized and compared to the standard low molecular weight contrast agent Gd-DTPA. Initial experience with new MMCM, such as Dendrimers, Gd-DTPA-Polylysine and MS-325 will be outlined. The potential of "blood-pool"-iron oxides, such as AMI-227 for the evaluation of tumor microvascular permeabilities will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Daldrup
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mühler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gossmann
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendland
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rosenau
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brasch
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media