Use of contrast agents in oncological imaging: magnetic resonance imaging.
Magnetic resonance plays a leading role in the management of oncology patients, providing superior contrast resolution and greater sensitivity compared with other techniques, which enables more accurate tumor identification, characterization and staging. Contrast agents are widely used in clinical magnetic resonance imaging; approximately 40-50% of clinical scans are contrast enhanced. Most contrast agents are based on the paramagnetic gadolinium ion Gd3+, which is chelated to avoid the toxic effects of free gadolinium. Multiple factors such as molecule structure, molecule concentration, dose, field strength and temperature determine the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates (R1 and R2, respectively) and thus the T1- and T2-relaxivities of these chelates. These T1- and T2-relaxivities, together with their pharmacokinetic properties (i.e. distribution and concentration in the area of interest), determine the radiologic efficacy of the gadolinium-based contrast agents.
Radiological Department, General Hospital Ca' Foncello, Treviso, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Morana
Christian
C
Cugini
Giuliano
G
Scatto
Riccardo
R
Zanato
Michele
M
Fusaro
Alberto
A
Dorigo
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055420:Perfusion Imaging
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium