Chemical shift misregistration artifact: Increased conspicuity following intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine

We have observed increased conspicuity of chemical shift misregistration artifact (CSMA) associated with enhancing structures on MR images after the intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine compared with corresponding unenhanced images. In this study, we investigate the influence of gadopentetate dimeglumine administration on the conspicuity of CSMA in MR imaging of the kidneys. Nine gadopentetate-enhanced and unenhanced T 1-weighted images of the kidneys were evaluated in a side-by-side fashion for the conspicuity of both the high and low signal intensity (SI) components of CSMA. A phantom study of saline in a bath of oil and increasing concentrations of gadopentetate dimeglumine in a bath of oil was performed. There was increased conspicuity of both the high and low SI components of CSMA in gadopentetate-enhanced images compared with unenhanced images in all study cases and in the phantom samples containing gadopentetate compared with the saline control. In conclusion, the administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine results in increased conspicuity of CSMA on MR images of the kidneys.