SUPERPARAMAGNETIC PARTICLES AS ORAL CONTRAST-MEDIUM IN MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF PATIENTS WITH TREATED OVARIAN-CANCER - COMPARISON WITHPLAIN MRI

In 23 patients with treated ovarian cancer, 24 magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of the abdomen and pelvis were performed before and afte r administration of an oral superparamagnetic contrast medium. Depicti on of bowel loops was judged sufficient in 47% with plain scans and in 85% with enhanced scans. Minor artefacts attributed to the agent were noted in 32% of examinations and were classified as disturbing in 8%. The diagnostic information obtained after contrast enhancement was es timated to be superior to that from plain MRI in 20% of patients. The use of oral contrast medium did not alter the MR diagnosis of ''tumour recurrence'' or ''disease-free'' in any patient. Our results suggest that superparamagnetic iron oxide is an effective and reliable approac h to negative bowel contrast enhancement, increasing the confidence le vel when distinguishing intestines from solid structures.