title: Magnetic resonance-visible polypropylene mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a magnetic resonance (MR)-visible mesh using iron oxides and prove visibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a phantom study, a suitable iron oxide, Fe3O4 [iron(II,III) oxide] and FeOOH [iron(III) oxide-hydroxide], concentration was determined using relaxometric MR measurements of the transverse relaxation rates R2 and R2*. Next, a nonabsorbable mesh was designed from the MR-visible threads woven into a polypropylene mesh. The mesh was implanted into a fresh female cadaver via the transobturator route, and MR visibility was assessed with various MR pulse sequences in a clinical 3-tesla system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Optimal contrast was achieved with Fe3O4 at 0.2 weight-% in all imaging sequences, and the optimal contrast was achieved in a 3D spoiled gradient-echo (fast low-angle shot) acquisition. In this concentration range the apparent transverse relaxation rate R2* is below 10 ms. The mesh was visible in the cadaver on T1-weighted 3D spoiled gradient-echo images and T1-weighted fast spin-echo images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mesh materials can be manufactured to be visible on MR with a negative contrast. Fe3O4 meshes could simplify follow-up examinations and help diagnose origins of postsurgical lesions after urogynecological procedures with mesh material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Brocker
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lippus
authors.forename: Céline D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hallscheidt
authors.forename: Fejér
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zsolt
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soljanik
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013526:Surgical Mesh
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D011126:Polypropylenes; C092844:ferric oxyhydroxide; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide