High-field, high-resolution, susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: improved image quality by addition of contrast agent and higher field strength in patients with brain tumors

Abstract

The intravenous administration of MultiHance, an agent with high relaxivity, allowed a reduction of scan time from 9 min to 7 min while preserving excellent susceptibility effects and image quality in SW images obtained at 3 T. Contrast enhancement and intralesional susceptibility effects can be assessed in one sequence.

Semiquantitative Assessment of Intratumoral Susceptibility Signals Using Non-Contrast-Enhanced High-Field High-Resolution Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Patients with Gliomas: Comparison with MR Perfusion Imaging

“…[7][8][9] Recently, HR-SWI has been described as a useful tool for noninvasive glioma grading. 11,12,17 High rCBV values on perfusion imaging in tumors go hand in hand with evidence of blood products detected within the tumor matrix on HR-SWI. 10 On the other hand, probably related to the angiogenesis and increased tumor blood supply, high-grade gliomas contain a relatively large amount of deoxyhemoglobin, which generates susceptibility effects and causes signal-intensity loss.…”

“…As shown previously, [4][5][6]17 HR-SWI can provide valuable additional information in pathologic brain disorders. Moreover, contrary to a previous report, 17 HR-SWI, as included in our imaging protocol, allowed coverage of the whole brain within the acquisition time mentioned above. At our institution, we could acquire HR-SWI with reasonable spatial resolution within 4 minutes, and our routine brain MR imaging protocol now includes non-contrast-enhanced HR-SWI.…”

“…11,12,17 Moreover, Mittal et al 10 proposed that hemorrhages can be easily distinguished from veins if HR-SWI is performed both before and after administration of contrast agent. Blood vessels will change their signal inten- sity due to the contrast agent, but signal intensity from hemorrhage will not change.…”

Distinguishing Recurrent Primary Brain Tumor from Radiation Injury: A Preliminary Study Using a Susceptibility-Weighted MR Imaging−Guided Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Analysis Strategy

“…However, a number of preliminary studies with histologic reference by using SWI without contrast have reported the improved delineation of the tumor margins and detection of intratumoral venous vasculature and hemorrhage. [6][7][8][9][10] Most important, a recent study reported improved conspicuity of susceptibility effects and image quality within the peritumoral territory by using CE-SWI, highlighting the clinical utility of this method for measuring contrast enhancement (ie, BBB leakage) and intralesional susceptibility effects (ie, necrosis) in the 1 imaging sequence. 9 Such findings give support for the concept of measuring ADC values within enhancement regions on CE-SWI maps for monitoring pathologic changes within this territory.…”

“…ceptibility effects, providing clinically useful information about altered tumor microvascularity, the degree of intratumoral necrosis, and the presence of subtle defects of the BBB within the surrounding parenchymal tissue. 9,10 The inherent ability of CE-SWI to distinguish such pathologic features provides a novel mechanism for evaluating ADC measures within parenchymal tissue with abnormal BBB function. Such regions are of considerable interest because recurrent tumor often occurs within this peritumoral territory.…”