A comparison of ferumoxytol with gadolinium as contrast agents for the diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of osteomyelitis.

Background: Ferumoxytol, an FDA-approved superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) preparation used for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, is also known to be taken up by macrophages in areas of infection or inflammation, where it produces negative contrast changes on T2-weighted MR images.

Purpose: We sought to compare Ferumoxytol-induced MRI contrast changes with those observed using standard-of-care Gadolinium in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of osteomyelitis.

Subjects: Out of eighteen enrolled patients, 15 had MR imaging with both ferumoxytol and gadolinium.