Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord
Published on: April 7, 2015
The effect of susceptibility of gadolinium contrast media on diffusion-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion
Akio Ogura1, Katsumi Hayakawa, Tosiaki Miyati
1Department of Radiology, Kyoto City Hospital, 1-2 Higashitaka-cho, Mibu, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. a-ogura@mbox.kyoto-inet.or.jp
Rationale And Objectives:
The development of parallel magnetic resonance imaging has resulted in the frequent use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in clinical medicine, which usually involves the use of contrast medium. However, gadolinium (Gd) contrast medium may have some effect on DWI and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The present study was performed to determine whether the magnetic susceptibility of contrast medium alters the DWI signal and the value of ADC in some imaging techniques.
Materials And Methods:
Nonfat suppression DWI, short-time inversion recovery (STIR) combination, and chemical shift selective (CHESS) combination DWI were performed to examine 10 phantoms with gadolinium-meglumine gadopentetate (Gd-DTPA) dissolved at concentrations from 0.0005 to 0.1 mmol in physiologic saline as a contrast medium. The average pixel value and ADC of each method were determined.
Results:
ADC showed no differences between before and after treatment with contrast medium for all imaging techniques with Gd considered distributed over the whole tumor. The signal intensity did not change on nonfat suppression or CHESS combination DWI, but deteriorated on STIR.
Conclusions:
ADC was not influenced by the magnetic susceptibility of contrast medium. In addition, it was suggested that the ability of tumor detection may be reduced if STIR is used as fat suppression.
Related Concept Videos
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
Radiological Investigation I: X-ray and CT
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography

