title: Gadolinium mesoporphyrin as an MR imaging contrast agent in the evaluation of tumors: an experimental model of VX2 carcinoma in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the enhancement features of experimentally induced malignant tumors on MR imaging with the use of gadolinium mesoporphyrin, a recently developed MR contrast agent that may be necrosis-specific.
  
  
  METHODS
  VX2 carcinoma was inoculated into 24 rabbit thighs. T1-weighted contrast-enhanced MR imaging with IV gadopentetate dimeglumine (2-min delay) and gadolinium mesoporphyrin (20-hr delay) was performed 3-4 days (n = 6), 6-7 days (n = 6), 10-11 days (n = 5), and 13-14 days (n = 7) after the implantation of VX2 carcinoma. All tumors were sectioned along the same plane of MR images, and a detailed MR imaging-histopathologic correlation was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pathologically, areas enhanced with gadolinium mesoporphyrin included necrotic tissue, viable tumor, inflammatory granulation tissue, hemorrhage, and fibrosis. On gadopentetate dimeglumine-enhanced MR images, unenhanced areas of the tumor corresponded with intratumoral necrosis and hemorrhage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gadolinium mesoporphyrin enhances tumor necrosis on delayed phase MR imaging; however, it is impossible to specifically depict necrosis with gadolinium mesoporphyrin because it also enhances other parts of lesions, including viable tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Weinmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008665:Metalloporphyrins; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D008665:Metalloporphyrins; C112663:gadolinium mesoporphyrin