The effect of MRI contrast agents on hepatic and splenic uptake in the rabbit during 99mTc‐MDP bone scintigraphy

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Omniscan® and Magnevist® on ^99mTc‐MDP uptake in rabbits during ^99mTc‐MDP bone scintigraphy. In Experiment Group 1, 30 healthy adult rabbits were randomized into six subgroups (n = 5); each subgroup experienced a different time interval between injections (30 min, 60 min, 120 min, 240 min, 360 min, 24 h). All six subgroups were injected first with Omniscan®, then with ^99mTc‐MDP. After 7 days, the same six subgroups were injected with normal saline followed by ^99mTc‐MDP at the same time intervals. In Experiment Group 2, 20 healthy adult rabbits were allocated randomly to four subgroups (n = 5); each subgroup experienced a different time interval between injections (30 min, 60 min, 120 min, 240 min). All four subgroups were injected first with Magnevist®, then with ^99mTc‐MDP. After 7 days, the same four subgroups were injected with normal saline followed by ^99mTc‐MDP. In all experiments, whole‐body skeletal imaging was performed. Liver, spleen, and background were delineated to determine the target‐to‐background (T/B) ratio. Diffusely increased intake of the imaging agent was seen in the liver and spleen when the injection‐time interval between Omniscan® and ^99mTc‐MDP varied from 30 min to 240 min and when the time interval between Magnevist® and ^99mTc‐MDP was 30 min–60 min. The imaging findings are consistent with the results of L/B and S/B ratios in each experiment group. Both Omniscan® and Magnevist® have an effect on ^99mTc‐MDP uptake during bone scanning; the main effect is diffusely increased hepatic and splenic activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.