Magnetic resonance ventriculography with gadolinium DTPA: report of two cases

Abstract

We report intrathecal use of gadolinium DTPA for MRI of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In two patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, we injected 0.01 mmol gadolinium DTPA into the lateral ventricle via an Ommaya device. Coronal T1-weighted images of the head were obtained at 0.2 T prior to and after injection. There was pronounced enhancement of CSF close to the injection site, allowing good delineation of CSF and surrounding brain tissue. No side effects occurred. MRI with intrathecal administration of highly diluted gadolinium DTPA may be a promising alternative to conventional investigation of CSF-filled cavities using iodinated X-ray contrast media or radionuclides.

The Role of MR Myelography with Intrathecal Gadolinium in Localization of Spinal CSF Leaks in Patients with Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

“…1,2 This has generated a significant interest in effective radiographic techniques to localize spinal CSF leaks. Beginning in the late 1990s, the use of low-dose intrathecal gadolinium began to be reported as an alternative to iodinated contrast for ventricular assessment, 9,19 CSF rhinorrhea, [4][5][6]14 and spinal CSF leaks. 3,15,20 These studies have illustrated the relative safety and utility of intrathecal gadolinium.…”

Gadolinium-Enhanced MR Cisternography to Evaluate Dural Leaks in Intracranial Hypotension Syndrome

“…15,16 In the past few years, solute Gd-DTPA also has been used to contrast cavities such as joints 17 and the subarachnoid space. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Intrathecal gadolinium (gadopentetate dimeglumine) is currently used to evaluate CSF fistula mostly for rhinorrhea. Jinkins et al 23 26 evaluated the safety and clinical response to gadopentetate dimeglumine in 95 patients who presented clinically with a variety of cranial or spinal signs and symptoms.…”

<i>In Vivo</i> Brain MR Imaging at Subnanoliter Resolution: Contrast and Histology

“…14 -16,19,20,22 Extracellular agents: gadolinium chelates Gadolinium chelates are widely used in humans to assess impairment of the blood-brain barrier, through which the agents may reach the extracellular fluid of the brain. Several investigations [33][34][35][36][37][38] explored the diagnostic potential of their administration into the cerebrospinal fluid in more than 100 human patients. Distributed over the cerebrospinal and extracellular fluid of the entire central nervous system, the chelates induce a unique contrast in brain MR imaging.…”