Brain tumor enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging: Comparison of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at 1.5 versus 3 tesla

Jonmenjoy Biswas, C. Brett Nelson, Val M. Runge, Bernd J. Wintersperger, Shannon S. Baumann, Carney B. Jackson, Tushar Patel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the difference in lesion enhancement between 1.5 and 3 T using an extracellular gadolinium chelate in a rat brain glioma model. Methods: Five rats (CDF Fischer 344) with implanted C6/LacZ brain gliomas were evaluated using matched T1-weighted spin echo techniques and hardware configurations at 1.5 and 3 T. Serial imaging over 10 minutes after gadoteridol (ProHance) administration was performed. Contrast enhancement (CE), signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for brain and tumor, as well as contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were evaluated using region-of-interest (ROI) analysis at both field strengths. All gliomas were also evaluated by histopathology. Results: CE at 3 T increased by 106% to 137% (all P < 0.05) with maximum CE occurring at 5 minutes for both 1.5 and 3 T (9.8 ± 2.2 vs 21.1 ± 3.5; P = 0.0004). At 3 T, SNR increased for normal brain by 66% to 76% (P < 0.01) and SNR for tumor increased by 70% to 89% (P < 0.01). CNR increased by 101% to 137% (P < 0.05) depending on the time postcontrast. The highest CNR for both 1.5 T and 3 T occurred 5 minutes after contrast (1.5 T: 9.4 ± 1.1 vs 3 T: 20.3 ± 2.4; P < 0.0004). Conclusion: Using a standardized animal model and matched scan techniques, this study shows a significant benefit of 3 T compared with 1.5 T in contrast-enhanced brain tumor magnetic resonance imaging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)792-797
Number of pages6
JournalInvestigative radiology
Volume40
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005

Keywords

  • 3 Tesla
  • CNR
  • Comparative study
  • Gadoteridol
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • SNR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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