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Evaluation of potential practical oral contrast agents for pediatric magnetic resonance imaging. Preliminary
1Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio.
Insights
Similac with iron, an inexpensive oral contrast agent, effectively visualizes the stomach and duodenum in MRI. Further trials are needed to confirm its utility for distal small bowel imaging.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Radiology
Background:
- Accurate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires effective contrast agents for differentiating bowel loops from surrounding tissues.
- Existing oral contrast agents may be costly, toxic, or unpalatable, particularly for pediatric patients.
- Development of a safe, accessible, and effective oral contrast agent is crucial for improving diagnostic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a readily available, inexpensive, non-toxic, and palatable oral contrast agent for pediatric MRI.
- To evaluate the efficacy of various formulas, milk products, and an oral sedative as MRI contrast agents.
- To assess the signal intensity and imaging characteristics of potential agents on a 1.5 T MRI system.
Main Methods:
- In vitro evaluation of several formulas, milk products, and an oral sedative.
- Measurement of T1, T2 relaxation times, and signal intensity using a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging system.
- Preliminary in vivo assessment in four healthy volunteers to evaluate gastrointestinal delineation.
Main Results:
- Similac with standard iron demonstrated high signal intensity across multiple pulse sequences.
- In vivo studies showed excellent visualization of the stomach and duodenum with this agent.
- Visualization of the distal small bowel was less consistent, indicating a need for further optimization.
Conclusions:
- Similac with standard iron shows promise as a cost-effective oral contrast agent for upper gastrointestinal MRI.
- The agent's composition, including iron salts and paramagnetic ions, contributes to its imaging properties.
- Further clinical trials are warranted to validate its diagnostic utility, especially for distal small bowel imaging.
Abstract:
Development of a practical oral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to improve differentiation of bowel from adjacent structures. In order to find a readily available, inexpensive, non-toxic, palatable solution for use in the pediatric population, several formulas, milk products and a common oral sedative were evaluated in vitro. T1, T2 and signal intensity measurements were performed on a 1.5 T system. Similac with standard iron proved to be a useful high signal intensity agent on multiple pulse sequences. Early in vivo experience in four normal volunteers indicates that this agent provides excellent delineation of the stomach and duodenum from contiguous viscera. Distal small bowel visualization is less predictable. Further clinical trials should confirm the utility of this solution, which contains a combination of iron salts and paramagnetic metallic ions.