Color map of contrast enhancement on MR images: use of desktop computers

An alternative method of presenting and evaluating unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MR images is illustrated. We used a desktop computer and commercially available software to combine unenhanced and contrast-enhanced images to produce a color map of contrast enhancement superimposed on a gray-scale image. The color-enhanced images increased the conspicuousness of the areas of contrast enhancement, which is particularly important if the enhancing structures are small or adjacent to fatty tissues. The process has advantages over standard subtraction techniques in that gray scale is preserved while areas of subtle contrast enhancement are readily seen as areas of color. Although applied to MR imaging, this method may also be applicable to other studies that use contrast enhancement.