A concept for magnetic resonance visualization of surgical textile implants.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method for visualizing surgical textile implant (STI) with superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIO), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, positive-contrast inversion-recovery with on-resonant water suppression (IRON) was applied and its properties were evaluated in vitro.


METHODS
STI with different concentrations of SPIO integrated into the base material were produced. Imaging was performed on a clinical 1.5 Tesla scanner, using conventional balanced gradient echo sequences (SSFP), T2*-weighted sequences, and IRON-imaging. In vitro experiments were conducted in an agarose phantom. On MR-images, contrast-to-noise-ratios, and the dimensions of the implant were assessed.


RESULTS
Conventional MRI exhibited SPIO-loaded STI as signal voids. Using IRON, the mesh was clearly exhibited hyperintensely with suppression of on-resonant background signals with a distinct differentiation to other sources of off-resonances. Concentrations of approximately 9 mg/g led to best positive contrast and highest contrast-to-noise-ratios using IRON. Depending on B0-orientation, phase encoding direction and the STI's SPIO-load, the IRON-signal showed a characteristic pattern and an overestimation of STI size up to 4.6 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
The integration of SPIOs into the base material combined with IRON is a feasible approach to visualize STI with MRI. This method could help to identify mesh-related problems in time and to reduce the need for surgical revision.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. kraemer@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Nils A
NA
Krämer
Hank C W
HC
Donker
Jens
J
Otto
Michael
M
Hodenius
Julien
J
Sénégas
Ioana
I
Slabu
Uwe
U
Klinge
Martin
M
Baumann
Andreas
A
Müllen
Boris
B
Obolenski
Rolf W
RW
Günther
Gabriele A
GA
Krombach
D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013784:Textiles; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D003287:Contrast Media; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers