Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To study the magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity of the liver and gall bladder before and after ingestion of a new oral manganese containing contrast medium at three different field strengths. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve healthy male volunteers (mean age, 24.9 years; range, 20-39 years) underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (T(2)W COR, T(1)W COR, T(1)W TRA) at 0.23 T, 0.6 T, and 1.5 T before and after the contrast administration. The duration of fasting was identical before the two studies. Volunteers were randomized into two equal groups (n = 6) to ingest either half or full strength CMC-001 providing either 0.8 or 1.6.g MnCl(2) plus absorption promoters. The CMC-001 dose was dissolved in 400 mL water and ingested 2.5 hours before imaging. The resulting images were evaluated with regard to visualization of the liver and the gall bladder by three radiologists. The signal intensity of the liver was also measured. Blood and urine samples were collected before and after ingestion of CMC-001. RESULTS The intake of CMC-001 caused a significant increase in the signal intensity of the liver at all three field strengths and at both dosages (up to 90%) on the T(1)W images. The internal structure of the liver was significantly better delineated. The bile in gall bladder was bright after ingestion of the low dose, but dark after the full dose. On the T(2)W images, CMC-001 lowered the signal intensity of liver with up to 30%. CMC-001 had a slight metallic taste, but of no importance according to the volunteers. No systematic adverse reactions caused by the contrast medium were registered. No changes in the blood levels of various routine parameters were measured. CONCLUSION It is possible to increase the signal intensity of the liver significantly by oral intake of essential nutritional elements including manganese. The imaging window is more than 2 hours.
