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Value of magnetization transfer contrast in intracranial enhancing and nonenhancing lesions with paramagnetic
S Hamatake1, Y Korogi, Y Sakamoto
1Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Honjo, Japan.
Purpose:
To evaluate normal brain structures and various brain lesions by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with magnetization transfer (MT) under the use of paramagnetic contrast agents.
Methods:
T1-weighted MR images were obtained before and after the administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine with and without MT in 125 lesions of 61 patients. Normal brain structures and various brain lesions were evaluated by means of MT ratios (MTR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/N).
Results:
Among normal structures, the white matter had a larger MTR than the gray matter, and no significant difference in MTRs was noted between pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted images. The MTRs were smaller in both enhancing and nonenhancing lesions than in the white matter. For most enhancing lesions, the MT technique increased the C/N on postcontrast images, whereas it decreased them on precontrast images. Improvement in C/N was observed on precontrast images in some gliomas as well as white matter lesions such as tuberous sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion:
The MTC method improves conspicuity and detection of intracranial enhancing lesions with use of paramagnetic contrast agents. Although the MTC method does not replace the conventional method, it is useful for detecting small enhancing lesions and for evaluating some nonenhancing lesions.