RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Utility of high-dose contrast enhancement for detecting recurrent herniated intervertebral disks.
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 1291
OP 1297
VO 15
IS 7
A1 Nguyen, C
A1 An, H
A1 Ho, K C
A1 Haughton, V M
A1 Hasegawa, T
YR 1994
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/15/7/1291.abstract
AB PURPOSE To study the utility of high-dose contrast enhancement in the detection of recurrent herniated disk fragments. METHODS Recurrent herniated disks were modeled in nine dogs by placing a fragment of normal autologous disk tissue in the epidural space at laminectomy. MR was performed at 30, 60, and 90 days with 0.3 mmol/kg of gadoteridol and repeated 24 hours later with 0.1 mmol/kg of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Contrast enhancement in the disk and scar tissue was measured and conspicuousness of the disk fragments assessed. RESULTS In 70% of the animals, disk fragments were more conspicuous with the larger dose of contrast medium than with the smaller dose. In 30% of animals the conspicuousness was approximately equal. Contrast between disk fragment and scar decreased with time elapsed since surgery, with time elapsed since contrast-medium injection, and with decreasing dose of contrast medium. CONCLUSION In the experimental model, increased conspicuousness of disk fragments was achieved with the larger dose of contrast medium. A clinical study is needed to confirm that a contrast-medium dose of 0.3 mmol/kg improves detection of recurrent herniated disks over a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg.