Three-dimensional MR pulmonary perfusion imaging and angiography with an injection of a new blood pool contrast agent B-22956/1

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 425 - 432
• Main Authors: Zheng, Jie, Carr, James, Harris, Katherine, Saker, Mark B., Cavagna, Friedrich M., Maggioni, Fabio, Laub, Gerhard, Li, Debiao, Finn, J. Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2001
• Subjects: angiography; Animals; Contrast Media; contrast-enhanced; Gadolinium; Heterocyclic Compounds; lung; Lung - anatomy & histology; Lung - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; MRI; Organometallic Compounds; perfusion; Pulmonary Circulation - physiology; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis; Swine
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.1203

Initial evaluation of a new blood pool agent, B‐22956/1, for pulmonary imaging was performed in five domestic pigs with artificial embolism. Pre‐embolism 3D pulmonary perfusion images were first acquired by injecting an extravascular agent, gadoteridol. The pulmonary arteries of the pigs were then occluded by the artificial emboli. Post‐embolism perfusion scans were subsequently performed by injecting B‐22956/1. Additional post‐embolism high‐spatial‐resolution angiograms were also acquired. Parenchyma perfusion deficits were well depicted in the post‐embolism perfusion maps. The post‐embolism angiography clearly revealed the location and extent of the filling defects in the pulmonary vessels. Signal intensities of perfusion maps on the normal parenchyma were significantly improved (30%) by using B‐22956/1, in comparison with perfusion images using gadoteridol (P < 0.01). Many pulmonary angiograms with approximately equal contrast could be obtained even at 22 minutes after the injection of B‐22956/1. Our initial results indicate that blood pool agent B‐22956/1 may provide opportunities for whole‐lung‐coverage perfusion mapping and additional high‐resolution target angiograms after a single injection. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:425–432. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.