Perfluorochemicals are fluorinated organic compounds. Perfluorochemicals can be used in gastrointestinal imaging as a negative contrast agent to reduce signal in the intestine. The MRI signal reduction is caused by the absence of mobile protons.
Perfluoroctylbromide (PFOB)(C8F17Br) is suitable for gastrointestinal use in humans; perfluorononane has been tested in animal models. PFOB is commercially available as Perflubron® (Imagent GI, Alliance). Benefits of this type of contrast media are biologically inertia, immiscibility with water, and a fast transit through the small intestine caused by low surface tension.
Fluosol-DA, a perfluorochemical emulsion has been tested in mice as a tumor specific agent for 19F-MRI.

See also Classifications, Characteristics, etc.

Categories of negative oral contrast agents:
Negative oral contrast media are usually based on superparamagnetic particles and act by inducing local field inhomogeneities, which results in shortening of both T1 and T2 relaxation times. Superparamagnetic contrast agents have predominant T2 weighted effects. Biphasic contrast media are agents that have different signal intensities on different sequences, depending on the concentration at which they are used.
Suitable materials for oral contrast agents should have little or no absorption by the stomach or intestines, complete excretion, no motion or susceptibility artifacts, affordability, and uniform marking of the gastrointestinal tract. Benefits of negative oral contrast agents are the reduction of ghosting artifacts caused by the lack of signal. Superparamagnetic iron oxides produce also in low concentrations a noticeable signal loss; but can generate susceptibility artifacts especially in gradient echo sequences. Perfluorochemicals do not dilute in the bowel because they are not miscible with water.
High cost, poor availability, and limited evaluations of side effects are possible disadvantages.
Negative oral contrast agents are used e.g., in MRCP, where the ingestion of 600-900 ml of SPIO cancels out the signal intensity of the lumen (in addition after the injection of a gadolinium-based contrast medium, the enhancement of the inflammatory tissues is clearer seen), and in MR abdominal imaging of Crohn's disease in combination with mannitol.

Blueberry or pineapple juices are useable for examinations of the pancreas (MRCP, upper abdominal imaging) as cheep contrast agents, because of the content of magnetic substances (e.g. manganese).

See also Ferristene, Ferumoxsil, Oral Magnetic Particles, Gastrointestinal Imaging.

Contrast agents are chemical substances introduced to the anatomical or functional region being imaged, to increase the differences between different tissues or between normal and abnormal tissue, by altering the relaxation times. MRI contrast agents are classified by the different changes in relaxation times after their injection.
The design objectives for the next generation of MR contrast agents will likely focus on prolonging intravascular retention, improving tissue targeting, and accessing new contrast mechanisms. Macromolecular paramagnetic contrast agents are being tested worldwide. Preclinical data shows that these agents demonstrate great promise for improving the quality of MR angiography, and in quantificating capillary permeability and myocardial perfusion.
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles have been evaluated in multicenter clinical trials for lymph node MR imaging and MR angiography, with the clinical impact under discussion. In addition, a wide variety of vector and carrier molecules, including antibodies, peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, liposomes, and cells have been developed to deliver magnetic labels to specific sites. Technical advances in MR imaging will further increase the efficacy and necessity of tissue-specific MRI contrast agents.

See also Adverse Reaction and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.

See also the related poll result: 'The development of contrast agents in MRI is'

Perflubron® is a perfluorochemical for use as an oral contrast agent. Due to its insolubility in water it does not mix with intestinal secretions; thus bowel lumina appear homogeneously dark on MR images when Perflubron® replaces bowel contents. Filled bowel loops appear black with all pulse sequences because the contrast agent lacks mobile protons.
It is commercially available as Imagent GI. Because rapid transit through the gastrointestinal tract it reaches the rectum within 30 to 40 minutes in most patients. MR imaging of the upper abdominal region should begin within 15 minutes and of the pelvic region 15 to 60 minutes after ingestion of perflubron.

See also Classifications, Characteristics, etc.

Short name: PFOB (C8F17Br), generic name: Perfluoroctylbromide.
Perflubron® is a negative oral contrast agent consisting of perfluorochemicals used in MRI scans to darken the bowel. In gastrointestinal MR imaging the differentiation between intestines, adjacent structures and pathologic masses are improved.
Not commercially available in Canada.

See also Classifications, Characteristics, etc.