Application of an exogenous hyperoxic contrast agent in MR mammography: initial results

Eur Radiol. 2005 Apr;15(4):829-32. doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2484-0. Epub 2004 Sep 22.

Abstract

There is interest in applying novel methods to dynamic MR mammography (MRM). One such possibility is to administer an exogenous hyperoxic contrast agent, such as carbogen (95-98% O2 and 2-5% CO2) or pure oxygen (100% O2). We report our first experiences with these agents in a patient with an invasive lobular carcinoma. Fourteen dynamic series were acquired with an rf-spoiled 2D multislice gradient echo sequence, including three measurements while breathing air, four measurements with 100% oxygen, three measurements with air and four measurements with carbogen. Afterwards, 0.1 mmol/kg bw of Gd-DTPA was administered to obtain dynamic T1-weighted double-echo 3D axial gradient echo images (TR/TE1/TE2/alpha=7.8 ms/2 ms/4.76 ms/15 degrees) every 90 s up to 4.5 min after injection. The lesion was well delineated on the contrast-enhanced images, contrary to magnitude images reconstructed from the raw data sets acquired during air/oxygen/carbogen breathing. A ROI-based median-filtered signal-time course revealed a tumor signal increase of roughly 15% between scans acquired during air and oxygen breathing. Though preliminary, these first results are encouraging concerning the exploration of these alternative contrast agents in MRM in greater detail.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Carbon Dioxide*
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / diagnosis*
  • Contrast Media*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Mammography / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Oxygen*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • carbogen
  • Oxygen