Contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging of the liver: present and future.
New contrast agents are being developed by drug companies to better image the liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They can be divided into hepatobiliary agents (Gd-EOB-DTPA, Gd-BOPTA, Mangafodipir) and nanoparticulate agents directed to the reticulo-endothelial system (ferumoxides, SHU 555A). After intravenous injection, all these agents concentrate in the liver and induce profound signal changes. Particulate agents induce predominantly a darkening of the liver parenchyma, while hepatobiliary agents induce a brightening. In both cases, liver-lesion conspicuity is enhanced, leading to a better visualization of the lesion. After a description of the principal pharmacokinetic characteristics of the compounds, this review paper summarizes the utility of the agents in the detection and characterization of focal liver diseases.
Clément
O
O
Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Laënnec, Paris, France.
Siauve
N
N
Lewin
M
M
de Kerviler
E
E
Cuénod
C A
CA
Frija
G
G
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000145:classification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media