During magnetic resonance imaging, in some cases a special contrast agent is used. It is administered intravenously before the start of the examination or during scanning. After administration, the agent enters the bloodstream and helps to more clearly display the structures of organs and tissues on tomographic images.
The use of contrast enhances the difference between different tissues. Thanks to this, during the examination it is possible to assess their structure in more detail, determine the boundaries of pathological changes more accurately, and increase the informativeness of the diagnosis.
Such an examination is especially useful in cases when it is necessary to clarify the nature of neoplasms, assess the condition of blood vessels, or study the features of tissue blood supply. For example, contrast may be used during vascular examinations, in particular during MR angiography.
Contrast enhancement makes it possible to obtain more detailed and informative images, which helps to more accurately assess changes in tissues and determine the further tactics of examination or treatment.