Skull base tumors: gadodiamide injection--enhanced MR imaging--drop-out effect in the early enhancement pattern of paragangliomas versus different tumors.

Abstract

A phase III trial was conducted in 40 patients with known or suspected skull base tumors to evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose gadodiamide injection for use as a paramagnetic contrast medium in conventional and dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Contrast material enhancement was assessed dynamically with use of a gradient-recalled sequence. The time-intensity curve of selected regions of interest showed a reproducible dropout effect in the form of a dip in the curve during the early enhancement of the sigmoid sinus and jugular bulb; the same phenomenon was observed in all glomus tumors of the skull base, regardless of size or location. In contrast, schwannomas, meningiomas, and a variety of other lesions showed a continuous increase in the time-intensity curve. The drop-out sign, which is probably a result of a paramagnetic phenomenon during the early phase of enhancement, seems to be specific for glomus tumors. High-dose gadodiamide injection may show a specific dynamic pattern for glomus tumors, allowing differentiation from other tumors of the middle and posterior skull base.

• Authors: T J Vogl, M G Mack, M Juergens, C Bergman, G Grevers, T F Jacobsen, J Lissner, R Felix
• Journal: Radiology (Radiology) Vol. 188 Issue 2 Pg. 339-46 (Aug 1993) ISSN: 0033-8419 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8327675 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase III, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Organometallic Compounds
• Meglumine
• Pentetic Acid
• gadodiamide
• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Drug Combinations
• Gadolinium DTPA
• Glomus Jugulare Tumor (diagnosis)
• Humans
• Image Enhancement
• Injections
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Meglumine
• Meningioma (diagnosis)
• Neurilemmoma (diagnosis)
• Organometallic Compounds
• Pentetic Acid
• Prospective Studies
• Skull Neoplasms (diagnosis)