Korean J Radiol.  2008 Dec;9(6):520-525. 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.6.520.

Optimization of the Contrast Mixture Ratio for Simultaneous Direct MR and CT Arthrography: an in Vitro Study

• Choi JY
• Kang HS
• Hong SH
• Lee JW
• Kim NR
• Jun WS
• Moon SG
• Choi JA

• KMID: 1118873
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2008.9.6.520

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to determine the optimal mixture ratio of gadolinium and iodinated contrast agent for simultaneous direct MR arthrography and CT arthrography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro study was performed utilizing mixtures of gadolinium at six different concentrations (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10 and 20 mmol/L) and iodinated contrast agent at seven different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50, 75 and 92-99.9%). These mixtures were placed in tissue culture plates, and were then imaged with CT and MR (with T1-weighted sequences, proton-density sequences and T2-weighted sequences). CT numbers and signal intensities were measured. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlations between the gadolinium/iodinated contrast agent mixtures and the CT numbers/MR signal intensities. Scatter diagrams were plotted for all gadolinium/iodinated contrast agent combinations and two radiologists in consensus identified the mixtures that yielded the optimal CT numbers and MR signal intensities. RESULTS: The CT numbers showed significant correlation with iodinated contrast concentrations (r = 0.976, p < 0.001), whereas the signal intensities as measured on MR images showed a significant correlation with both gadolinium and iodinated contrast agent concentrations (r = -484 to -0.719, p < 0.001). A review of the CT and MR images, graphs, and scatter diagram of 42 combinations of the contrast agent showed that a concentration of 1.25 mmol/L gadolinium and 25% iodinated contrast agent was the best combination for simultaneous CT and MR imaging. CONCLUSION: A mixture of 1.25 mmol/L gadolinium and 25% iodinated contrast agent was found to be optimal for simultaneous direct MR arthrography and CT arthrography.

Keyword

Magnetic resonance (MR), arthrography; Computed tomography (CT), arthrography; Gadolinium; Computed tomography (CT), contrast media

MeSH Terms

*Arthrography
Contrast Media/*administration & dosage
Gadolinium/administration & dosage/*diagnostic use
Iohexol/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives/diagnostic use
*Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Meglumine/administration & dosage/*diagnostic use
Organometallic Compounds/administration & dosage/*diagnostic use
Phantoms, Imaging
*Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

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  Fig. 1 CT and MR images of tissue plates used in present study. A. CT image. B. T1-weighted MR image (TR/TE = 500/14). C. Proton density MR image (TR/TE = 3000/14, ETL = 5). D. T2-weighted MR image (TR/TE = 3000/98, ETL = 12). ETL = echo train length

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  Fig. 2 Changes in CT numbers (region of interest values) at various gadolinium concentrations with different volume percentages of iodinated contrast agent.

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  Fig. 3 Changes in signal intensities (region of interest values) at various gadolinium concentrations with different volume percentages of iodinated contrast agent as seen on proton density MR images (TR/TE = 3000/14, ETL = 5). ETL = echo train length

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  Fig. 4 Changes in signal intensities (region of interest values) at various gadolinium concentrations with different volume percentages of iodinated contrast agent as seen on T1-weighted MR images (TR/TE = 500/14).

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  Fig. 5 Changes in signal intensities (region of interest values) at different gadolinium concentrations with different volume percentages of iodinated contrast agent as seen on T2-weighted MR images (TR/TE = 3000/98, ETL = 12). ETL = echo train length

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