Triple dose of gadolinium-DTPA increases the sensitivity of spinal cord MRI in detecting enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis.
We compared the sensitivity of single and triple dose Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting enhancing lesions in the spinal cord of 13 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We detected two enhancing lesions in two of 13 (15%) patients when the single dose of Gd-DTPA was used and 12 lesions in five of 13 (38%) patients when the triple dose of Gd-DTPA was used. These results suggest that: (1) the use of triple dose increases the sensitivity of spinal cord MRI when studying relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS patients, (2) triple dose Gd-DTPA enhanced of the spinal cord MRI might be useful in monitoring disease activity in patients with MS.
Department of Neuroradiology, Neurology Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
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Yousry
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Fesl
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Walther
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Voltz
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Filippi
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009333:Neck; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013909:Thorax
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA