title: Intra-individual comparison of image contrast in SPIO-enhanced liver MRI at 1.5T and 3.0T.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to examine if the higher susceptibility at 3.0 Tesla (T) compared to 1.5 T will affect the contrast in MR imaging of the liver after application of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIO). The study was approved by our institutional review board and informed consent was obtained. Seventeen healthy volunteers were examined in a prospective, intra-individual comparative study within one day on a 1.5 T and a 3.0 T MRI system. T2 weighted TSE sequences were acquired after bolus injection of a SPIO contrast agent. Image contrast and signal to noise ratio (SNR) were compared between the field strengths. Image contrast was calculated between the liver tissue and the kidneys / spleen / muscles and fluids. The students'T-test was used for statistical analysis. No influence of the higher field strength could be observed on image contrast except for the liver / muscle contrast. This was due to a distinct SNR increase of the muscle tissue at 3.0 T as a result of their relaxation properties. The higher susceptibility at 3.0 T compared to 1.5 T does not translate into a stronger signal attenuation of the SPIO enhanced liver parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany. marcus.von_falkenhausen@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Falkenhausen
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Götz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lutterbey
authors.forename: Nuschin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morakkabati
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gieseke
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blömer
authors.forename: Winfried A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Willinek
authors.forename: Christiane K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kuhl
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007501:Iron; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide