PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - G Akansel
AU  - V M Haughton
AU  - R A Papke
AU  - S Censky
TI  - Diffusion into human intervertebral disks studied with MR and gadoteridol.
DP  - 1997 Mar 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 443--445
VI  - 18
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/3/443.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/18/3/443.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1997 Mar 01; 18
AB  - PURPOSE To determine the feasibility of measuring diffusion into human intervertebral disks by means of MR imaging with an intravenous nonionic gadolinium complex (gadoteridol).METHODS In 18 patients undergoing lumbar spine MR imaging, signal intensity was measured in the intervertebral disks after a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg and after a supplemental dose of 0.2 mmol/kg.RESULTS Signal intensity in the intervertebral disks increased with both gadoteridol doses. A greater increase was consistently achieved with the 0.3 mmol/kg (total) dose than with the 0.1 mmol/kg dose. The increase was greater near the endplates than in the midportion of the disk.CONCLUSION Diffusion into human intervertebral disks can be detected with MR imaging after intravenous administration of gadoteridol. MR imaging with a paramagnetic contrast medium can be used to study diffusion into disk cartilage in vivo and noninvasively.