Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 30, 2025
In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears
Published on: February 21, 2018
Does MR arthrography cause intracranial gadolinium deposition?
Katherine M Bunnell1, Robert Hemke1,2, Jad S Husseini1
1Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Yawkey 6E, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Purpose:
To determine (i) whether intra-articular gadolinium from MR arthrography (MRA) results in gadolinium deposition in the brain and (ii) whether there is a correlation between intra-articular gadolinium dose and intracranial gadolinium deposition.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective study was institutional review board (IRB) approved and HIPAA compliant. The study group included consecutive adult patients who had undergone MRA of the hip or shoulder and subsequent MRI of the brain. None of the patients had a history of intravenous gadolinium exposure. A control group of patients of similar age and sex who were never exposed to gadolinium and had brain MRIs available was included. Signal intensities (SI) of four brain regions: pons, dentate nuclei (DN), globus pallidi (GP), and thalamus (Thal) normalized to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and expressed in SI ratios were measured on T1-weighted non-contrast MR images. Groups were compared using the student's t test. Linear correlation analysis of gadolinium dose and brain SI ratios was performed, and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) are reported.
Results:
We identified 109 patients (mean age 44 ± 14 years, 54% men) who had undergone MRA and 149 controls of similar age and sex distribution. There was no significant difference in mean SI ratios of the brain regions between patients and controls: pons/CSF (p = 0.7), DN/CSF (p = 0.4), GP/CSF (p > 0.99), Thal/CSF (p = 0.3). Within the MRA group, gadolinium dose was not associated with SI ratios (p > 0.2).
Conclusion:
Our study found no MR evidence of intracranial gadolinium deposition following MRA. In addition, there was no association between intra-articular gadolinium dose and SI ratios in commonly affected regions of the brain.
Insights
This study found no evidence of brain gadolinium deposition after MR arthrography (MRA). Gadolinium dose from MRA did not correlate with intracranial signal intensity ratios in brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Gadolinium-based contrast agents are used in MRI.
- Intra-articular gadolinium from MR arthrography (MRA) raises concerns about potential brain deposition.
- Previous studies have focused on intravenous gadolinium exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether intra-articular gadolinium from MRA leads to gadolinium deposition in the brain.
- To determine if the dose of intra-articular gadolinium correlates with intracranial gadolinium deposition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study comparing patients who underwent hip or shoulder MRA with a control group.
- Signal intensities (SI) of brain regions (pons, dentate nuclei, globus pallidi, thalamus) normalized to CSF were measured on non-contrast T1-weighted MRI.
- Statistical analysis included t-tests and linear correlation analysis to compare SI ratios and assess dose-response relationships.
Main Results:
- 109 MRA patients and 149 controls were analyzed.
- No significant differences in brain region SI ratios were found between MRA patients and controls.
- No association was observed between intra-articular gadolinium dose and brain SI ratios within the MRA group.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging provided no evidence of intracranial gadolinium deposition following intra-articular MRA.
- The dose of gadolinium administered during MRA was not associated with increased signal intensity in commonly affected brain regions.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Imaging 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...
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI