Brain MR perfusion imaging in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate any possible advantages of high-concentration gadolinium chelates in the human brain thin-slice MR.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients were allocated into six groups. Three groups had perfusion imaging performed using 7-mm-thick slices and the other three groups had 4-mm-thick slices. One group who had 7-mm slices and one group of 4-mm slices had 0.5 M gadolinium (20 ml) whilst other groups received the high-concentration gadolinium (1.0 M: 10 ml and 20 ml). The time-intensity curves were analysed for maximum signal reduction and signal-to-noise measurements.


RESULTS
Twenty ml of the 1.0-M agent produced significantly increased maximum signal change and improvement in signal-to-noise when compared to 20 ml of 0.5 M. There was no significant difference between the maximum signal change when 20 ml of 0.5 M and 10 ml of 1.0 M agents were compared. There was no significant difference between the maximum signal changes when 7-mm and 4-mm slice thickness using the same dosing regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Four-mm slice thickness perfusion imaging can be performed with high-concentration gadolinium in the human brain and we discuss the advantages of this.
Griffiths
P D
PD
Section of Academic Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Wilkinson
I D
ID
Wels
T
T
Hoggard
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D005682:Gadolinium