ABSTRACT
It was noticed that Gadolinium-based contrast agents produced vascular and tissue enhancement on computed tomographic [CT] scans obtained in patients after magnetic resonance [MR] imaging examinations. It also have been used as an alternative to iodinated contrast agents in angiography. This study was performed to assess more systematically the potential utility of gadolinium based contrast agent at both CT and conventional X-ray procedures .Fifteen patients were examined with Gd-DTPA as a contrast medium for CT of Brain [5 patients], CT abdomen [5 patients] and another five patients underwent routine intravenous urography [IVU] examination. Single cut level dynamic scan for CT examinations performed after intravenous injection of the Gd-DTPA as a bolus technique and time enhancement curves for different tissues of interest were drown. Gd-DTPA showed satisfactory diagnostic visualization of the urinary system, good contrast visualization of the veins, and Good enhancement of the brain vascularity, but milder degrees of tissue enhancement for parenchymatous organs occurred however the aorta showed good diagnostic enhancement. We concluded that gadolinium may be an alternative CT contrast agents for patients who cannot receive iodinated contrast agents and in whom contrast-enhanced CT is the examination of choice. While the current high cost of gadolinium-based contrast agents might prohibit their routine use, the cost might be justifiable in various infrequent clinical situations, particularly for vascular studies