Gadolinium enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance images of experimental brain abscess.

Gadolinium-DTPA, a paramagnetic contrast agent that distributes throughout the body in a manner similar to diatrizoate, was intravenously administered to a monkey with a hematogenously induced experimental intracranial abscess. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) and gadolinium enhanced saturation-recovery nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were both performed immediately and repeated after a 30 min delay. The NMR images revealed marked ring enhancement at a time when CT showed a nodule. Both imaging modalities were analyzed with respect to the pathological specimen. Gadolinium-DTPA may be an effective agent for imaging alterations of the blood-brain barrier.