Three-dimensional MR imaging of pulmonary vessels and parenchyma with NC100150 injection (Clariscan (TM))

The influence of increasing doses of NC100150 Injection (Clariscan(TM)) and echo times on visualization of pulmonary vessels and parenchyma was evalua ted. The effects of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg Fe/kg NC100150 Injection and ech o times (TE) of 1.1, 1.8, 2.2, and 4.3 msec were determined in six dogs usi ng breath-hold three-dimensional (3D) spoiled gradient-echo magnetic resona nce (MR) sequence. At 2 mg Fe/kg and TE of 1.1 msec, the signal-to-noise ra tio of the central pulmonary arteries and parenchyma was significantly incr eased (5.3 +/- 2.2 to 50.3 +/- 2.4) and (2.2 +/- 0.9 to 6.4 +/- 1. 1), resp ectively. Using the TE of 1.1 msec, signal intensity in the main arteries c ontinued to increase with increasing dose. Moreover, the enhancement of pul monary parenchyma and microvasculature had a positive dose response. 3D MR imaging with ultrashort echo time and 2 mg Fe/kg NC100150 Injection produce s angiograms with strong vascular contrast and allows qualitative assessmen t of pulmonary parenchyma and microvasculature. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 200 0;11: 622-628. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.