Contrast media for cardiothoracic MR imaging

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Thoracic Radiology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Magnetic resonance (MR) contrast media are established tools for assessing myocardial infarction, ischemia, and jeopardized myocardium.
• Current contrast agents typically show ischemic areas as decreased signal intensity compared to normal tissue.
• Limited data exist on MR contrast media for evaluating mediastinal and lung masses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of MR contrast media in thoracic imaging.
• To explore the potential of new contrast agents for enhancing thoracic masses.
• To discuss the role of MR contrast media in myocardial ischemia and thoracic mass evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on MR contrast media in thoracic imaging.
• Analysis of studies utilizing contrast agents for myocardial ischemia and thoracic masses.
• Evaluation of a new nonionic contrast medium, gadodiamide injection.

Main Results:

• MR contrast media improve the delineation of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic areas.
• Magnetic susceptibility agents identify ischemic areas as increased signal intensity.
• Gadodiamide injection significantly increases signal-to-noise (S/N) and contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios for thoracic masses.

Conclusions:

• MR contrast media play a crucial role in evaluating myocardial ischemia.
• Newer agents like gadodiamide injection enhance the conspicuity of thoracic masses.
• Further research is needed to fully define the clinical utility of MR contrast media for thoracic conditions.