MRI Brain Signal Intensity Changes of a Child During the Course of 35 Gadolinium Contrast Examinations.

Abstract

We describe the observed and quantitative signal intensity changes in the brain on baseline precontrast T1-weighted MRI data of a pediatric patient who received 35 MRI examinations with gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) between the ages of 8 and 20 years. The contrast agent this patient received belongs to a class of agents with linear molecular structures, which has been recently investigated in studies of gadolinium deposition in the brains of adult patients. Visual changes in signal intensity were assessed by 3 pediatric neuroradiologists, and progressive increases were the most evident in the dentate nuclei, the globus pallidus, and the thalamus. Quantitative measurements as determined from signal intensity ratios confirmed visual findings. The pattern of regional brain hyperintensity observed in this pediatric patient is consistent with findings from adult studies.