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Enhancement of intervertebral disks with gadolinium complexes: comparison of an ionic and a nonionic medium in an
M A Ibrahim1, V M Haughton, J S Hyde
1Biophysics Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Purpose:
To compare MR contrast enhancement of intervertebral disk tissue after intravenous administration of equimolar doses of an ionic and of a nonionic gadolinium complex.
Methods:
Contrast enhancement was measured on MR in lumbar intervertebral disks for 120 minutes after intravenous injection of gadoteridol or gadopentetate dimeglumine, 0.3 mmol/kg. MR studies were performed with each contrast medium in four rabbits. Contrast enhancement was measured in intervertebral disks as a function of time and contrast medium.
Results:
With both contrast media, enhancement of normal intervertebral disks was detected. Enhancement of disks was significantly greater with gadoteridol than with gadopentetate dimeglumine.
Conclusion:
The enhancement of cartilage is influenced by the molecular structure of the gadolinium complex. The negative charge of gadopentetate dimeglumine may give it a slower rate of diffusion into disk cartilage than a nonionic complex.