New contrast agents for imaging the liver.
The contrast agents suited for hepatic imaging can be divided into nonspecific, extracellular space- (ECS) directed, reticuloendothelial system- (RES) selective, and hepatocyte-selective compounds. There is a wide variation in regard to biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, contrast behavior, and tissue specificity. The ECS contrast agents provide information on vascularization and perfusion similar to that of X-ray contrast agents. The RES- and hepatocyte-specific contrast agents offer more "functional" information that may enhance tissue characterization; however, the biology of the different hepatocellular and nonhepatocellular tumors is limiting the diagnostic efficacy of the tissue-specific compounds in many respects.
Helmberger
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Institute of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. helmberg@ikra.med.uni-muenchen.de
Semelka
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D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; C427127:superparamagnetic blood pool agent; C064572:gadobenic acid; C000499:ferric oxide; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D008536:Meglumine; D004492:Edetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; C060076:N,N'-bis(pyridoxal-5-phosphate)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide