MRI Evaluation of potential gastrointestinal contrast media

Diluted ProHance [Gd(HP-DO3A), Squibb Diagnostics, Princeton, NJ], Sustacal (Meadjohnson, Evansville, IN), a nutritional drink, and a ProHance/Sustacal mixture have been investigated as potential oral contrast agents. At 2 T, T1-weighted (SE 50020) images demonstrated hyperintense (positive) signal enhancement of rat GI tracts within 10 min after the ingestion of 2.0 mM Gd(HP-DO3A) or 2.0 mM ProHance/Sustacal. T2-weighted (SE 300080) images demonstrated hypointense (negative) signal intensity within 10 min after ingestion of 10 mM ProHance. Medical imaging applications of these oral contrast media are feasible.