Normal abdominal enhancement patterns with dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging

The objective of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively determine contrast enhancement patterns of normal abdominal organs with dynamic gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced, T1-weighted, spin-echo imaging was performed during a 23-second breath hold in 38 patients, with images acquired before, during, and at 1,2, and 5 minutes after bolus injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Enhancement patterns of normal liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenal gland, kidney, aorta, inferior vena cava, and fat were determined by visual evaluation and by performance of signal intensity measurements with an electronic cursor. Time-intensity curves demonstrated peak enhancement of all abdominal organs during or immediately after bolus injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. MR enhancement patterns included visualization of renal cortical nephrogram and heterogeneous enhancement of the spleen during the bolus phase of contrast material administration. Peak enhancement of normal liver was 72%; spleen, 172%; pancreas, 82%; adrenal gland, 85%; and kidney, 291%. This study established reference data regarding abdominal organ enhancement that will be useful as dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging becomes clinically implemented.