Dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging with SPIO: a pilot study

To investigate the feasibility of dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast material-enhanced (DSC) perfusion imaging with ferucarbotran at 3.0 T, and to assess the impact of the different characteristics of gadolinium (Gd)- and ferucarbotran-based agent in rCBV measurement under pathologic condition with BBB disruption.

Nine patients with suspected meningioma (4 men and 5 women; age range, 27-79 years; mean age, 61.6 +/- 17.9 years) were eligible for the study. Approval was obtained from the institutional review board. All participants provided signed informed consent prior to the study. DSC perfusion images were acquired with a T2*-weighted echo-planar imaging sequence during the first pass of a standard-dose of Gd-based agent, and of 4, 8, or 16 micromol Fe/kg of ferucarbotran-based agent in 3 patients for each dose respectively. Pre- and postenhanced T1-weighted images were obtained in all.

Ferucarbotran decreased the signal intensity in both gray and white matter in a dose-dependent fashion. Differences regarding the DeltaSI between the 4 and 8 or 8 and 16 micromol Fe/kg groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05, 1-way analysis of variance, Tukey-Kramer method) in any region. No effect of leakage of ferucarbotran was demonstrated in the intensity-time curves or in the postenhanced T1-weighted images. Relative CBV in tumor area obtained with Gd was reduced to 37.6%-86.5% compared with that obtained with ferucarbotran.

T2*-weighted DSC perfusion imaging with ferucarbotran is feasible at 3.0 T. Compared with Gd-based agent, larger particle size of ferucarbotran can diminish the effect of contrast leakage during the first pass under pathologic conditions with BBB disruption.