New double-contrast technique picks up small tumors on MRI

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have made a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue. The new research is based on a phenomenon called magnetic resonance tuning, which occurs between two nanoscale magnetic elements. One acts to enhance the signal, and the other quenches it. The researchers created a probe that generates two magnetic resonance signals that suppress each other until they reach the target, at which point they both increase contrast between the tumor and surrounding tissue. Combined with specially developed imaging analysis software, the double signal enabled researchers to pick out brain tumors in a mouse model with greatly increased sensitivity.