Gadolinium Solutions as Post-Mortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging Fiducial Markers and Intravascular Contrast Agents

Post-mortem human cadaveric imaging has numerous uses across medical research, education, and forensics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can illuminate gross anatomy and pathology without the need for dissection. However, post-mortem tissues suffer from relatively poor signal contrast and increased vascular porosity compared to living tissues. While clinical contrast agents enhance antemortem imaging, few have been optimized for post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging. Here, we systematically evaluated several simple and effective solutions as post-mortem fiducial markers and intravascular injection contrast agents. They demonstrated gadolinium concentration-dependent hyperintensity in several MRI sequences applied to gel phantoms and cadavers. The addition of gelatin increased hyperintensity and prevented vascular leakage. Ultimately, fiducial markers and post-mortem intravascular contrast provide validation for newly seen anatomy on high-resolution PMMR which can inform clinical practice.