title: Effects of iodinated contrast agent, xylocaine and gadolinium concentration on the signal emitted in magnetic resonance arthrography: a samples study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of dilution of paramagnetic contrast agent with iodinated contrast and xylocaine on the signal intensity during magnetic resonance arthrography, and to improve the paramagnetic contrast agent concentration utilized in this imaging modality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples specially prepared for the study with three different concentrations of paramagnetic contrast agent diluted in saline, iodinated contrast agent and xylocaine were imaged with fast spin echo T1-weighted sequences with fat saturation. The samples were placed into flasks and graphical analysis of the signal intensity was performed as a function of the paramagnetic contrast concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with samples of equal concentrations diluted only with saline, the authors have observed an average signal intensity decrease of 20.67% for iodinated contrast agent, and of 28.34% for xylocaine. However, the increased gadolinium concentration in the samples caused decrease in signal intensity with all the dilutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimizing the use of iodinated contrast media and xylocaine and/or the use of a gadolinium concentration of 2.5 mmol/L diluted in saline will improve the sensitivity of magnetic resonance arthrography.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Technologist, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yvana Lopes Pinheiro
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: PhD in Sciences, Professor at Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita Zanlorensi Visneck
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Fellow PhD degree in Sciences, Professor at Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia Elisa Prus
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: MD, Radiology and Ultrasonography Specialist at Centro Diagnóstico Água Verde (Cedav), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Rabello
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Radiology Technologist, Graduate Student of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sueliton Miyamoto
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schuindt
keywords: Contrast media; Magnetic resonance arthrography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Xylocaine