J Korean Radiol Soc.  1990 Apr;26(2):242-251. 10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.2.242.

An experimental study on MRI signal intensity of albumin solution

• Ahn IO
• Chang KH
• Han MH
• Sang CS
• Yeon KM

• KMID: 2358938
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.2.242

Abstract

This in vitro study attempted to correlate magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity with concentration ofalbumin solution in magnetic field strength of 2.0Tesla (T) and 0.5T. MR Imaging of bovine serum albumin solutionsof various concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 g/dl was performed on both 2.0T and 0.5T MR units. The relative(with respect to normal saline) signal intensities of each albumin solution were measured in T1-weighted, protondenstiy-weighted and T2-weighted MR images, correlated with albumin concentration on each pulse sequence, andcompared between 2.0T and 0.5T. Additionally, the albumin concentrations showing signal intensities identical tothose of white matter, cortical gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of normal brain MRI were determined byvisual comparison of those images. 1. On T1-weighted (SE 400-500msec/30msec) images under 2.0T and 0.5T fieldstrengh, the signal intensity increased with icreasing albumin concentrations up to about 30-35 g/dl and thendecreased. For the solutions ranging from 0 to about 5g/dl concentration, the signal intensities appearedisontense to normal saline on visual inspection. 2. On proton densitiy-weighted (SE 2000-2500 msec/30 msec) imagesunder 2.0T and 0.5T field strength, the signal intensity slightly increased with increasing albumin concentrationsupto about 7.5-10g/dl, and then gradually decreased. 3.On T2-weighted (SE 2000-2500 msec/80-100 msec) images under 2.0T and 0.5T field strength, the signal intensity slightly increased with increasing albumin concentrations uptoabout 7.5-10g/dl, and then gradually decreased. Above the concentration of about 25-30g/dl, the signal intensityappeared lower than that of normal saline on visual inspection. 4. Compared with the signal intensties of normalbrain structures on T1-weighted images under 2.0T and 0.5T field strength, the signal intensities of the albuminsolution below 2.5-5g/dl concentation were similar to that of CSF, and those of about 5-15 g/dl concentration andabout 15-25g/dl corresponded to cortical gray matter and periventricular white matter, respectively. On protondensity-weighted images, the signal intensities of CSF, cortical gray matter and white matter were all similar andcorresponded to albumin concertations of 0 to 2.5 -5.0 g/dl concentration showed higher signal intensities thanbrain parenchyma, On T2-weighted images, the signal intensities of teh solutions of 0 to 25-30g/dl concentration appeared identical to that of CSF, and those of higher concentration were similar to those of brain parenchyma. 5. Any difference in signal intensity between 2.0T and 0.5T could not be recongnized by visual comparison, althoughthe signal intensities with 0.5T were generally slightly higher on T1-weighted images and slightly lower in protondensity-and T2-weighted images. In conclusion, since albumin solution shows variable MR signal intensities,depending on its concentration, and especially shows low signal intensity at the concentration above about 35g/dlon T1-weighted image, even pure proteinaceous cysts are supposed to have ver variable signal intensities inclinical MR images.

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Gray Matter
In Vitro Techniques
Magnetic Fields
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Protons
Serum Albumin, Bovine
White Matter
Protons
Serum Albumin, Bovine