T1 and T2 relaxation times on gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance images of brain tumors.

MRI of brain tumors was performed with CPMG pulse sequence, and T1 and T2 relaxation times were measured before and after the administration of 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA. T1 and T2 became significantly shorter than before with the T1 shortening being about twice the T2's. Three types of T2 shortening were classified by the difference in the intra-tumoral transport of Gd-DTPA in the time-course study after the administration. Transportal activity of Gd-DTPA seemed to be reflected by the physiologic viability of tumor suggested by pre-contrast T2.