Gd-DTPA adrenal gland enhancement at 1.5 T

The change in relative signal intensity of normal adrenal glands in 31 patients was evaluated following bolus administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). A marked increase in relative intensity of greater than 300% was observed within 2.5 min following contrast administration upon comparison of pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted gradient-echo images (TR = 47 msec, TE = 13 msec, pulse angle 80 degrees). Significantly elevated relative intensities of 55% and 44% persisted on postcontrast T1-weighted spin-echo images obtained at further delay times averaging 8 and 20 min, respectively, when compared to the identical precontrast sequence.