Value of a blood pool contrast agent in MR venography of the lower extremities and pelvis: Preliminary results in 12 patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of a blood-pool contrast media (NC100150, Nycomed Imaging (now Amersham Health) Oslo, Norway) for evaluation of venous thrombosis of the deep veins of the pelvis and lower extremities. Twelve patients were prospectively evaluated with conventional X-ray venography (XRV) and MR venography (MRV) after injection of NC100150 (2 ml/kg body weight). The source images and 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) were viewed on an independent workstation. Diagnosis was made in consensus from two radiologists.

Rapid MR venography in children using a blood pool contrast agent and multi-station fat-water-separated volumetric imaging

“…While ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate the extremities, it is of limited sensitivity in the assessment of pelvic veins [1, 2]. Methods utilizing iodinated contrast for venography are not optimal in the pediatric population because of the exposure to ionizing radiation.…”

“…Venography may be performed by ultrasound, CT, conventional catheter-based contrast venography, and MR [1]. Ultrasound is operator- and patient-dependent, and has suboptimal sensitivity when evaluating the pelvic veins [2].…”

“…Ultrasound is operator- and patient-dependent, and has suboptimal sensitivity when evaluating the pelvic veins [2]. Both CT venography and catheter-based contrast venography rely on ionizing radiation, use iodinated contrast with its risk of contrast nephropathy, and are limited by rapid clearance of contrast from the blood pool [1]. MR venography using 2D time of flight suffers from long acquisition times, as well as sensitivity to patient motion, pulsatility artifact, and confounding signal voids from flow turbulence [3], while MR venography with standard extracellular gadolinium agents is hampered by rapid distribution of these contrast agents into the surrounding tissues, restricting image acquisition time and hence image resolution or anatomic coverage.…”

Targeted Delivery of Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles

“…MNPs have also been used clinically to better delineate primary tumors [33], to detect metastases [34,35], to image angiogenesis [36] and to map the vascular supply of primary tumors preoperatively. Finally, MNPs are in clinical testing to image inflammatory components of atherosclerosis [37], to assess vascular patency [38] and to image multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Given the multitude of clinical applications and success of dextranated MNPs, it is a logical extension to develop molecularly targeted nanoparticles for future clinical use.…”

3D T 1-mapping for the characterization of deep vein thrombosis

“…However, it has limited sensitivity for thrombi within the deep veins of the calf and pelvis [5]. Over the last decade, different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods have been proposed to diagnose DVT with the use of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents [6][7][8][9]. Three-dimensional (3D) gadolinium-enhanced MRvenography allows a comprehensive non-invasive evaluation of the deep venous system [8], but requires exact timing of the MR acquisition to catch the venous phase of the contrast agent passage [7].…”