Digital subtraction in gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of the brain: a method to reduce contrast dosage.
The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of using digital subtraction in contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the brain to reduce the MR contrast dosage without jeopardizing patient care. Fifty-two patients with intracranial lesions, either intra-axial or extra-axial, detected by computerized tomography were selected for contrast-enhanced MR imaging with half-dose and full-dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine. The half-dose unsubtracted, full-dose unsubtracted, and half-dose subtracted MR images were visually assessed by counting the number of enhancing brain lesions in the images and quantitatively analyzed by computing their lesion contrast-to-background ratios (CBR). The visual conspicuity of the half-dose subtracted MR images was comparable to that of the full-dose unsubtracted MR images ( p>0.05), whereas the CBR of the half-dose subtracted images was approximately two to three times higher than that of the full-dose unsubtracted images. The half-dose subtracted T1-weighted spin-echo images might be able to replace the conventional standard-dose T1-weighted spin-echo images in MR imaging of the brain.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. jchm888@yahoo.com
J H M
JH
Chan
E Y K
EY
Tsui
C Y
CY
Chan
K F
KF
Lai
L F
LF
Chau
D
D
Fong
C K
CK
Mok
Y K
YK
Cheung
K P C
KP
Wong
M K
MK
Yuen
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013382:Subtraction Technique
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA