Advanced
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
contrast extravasation
Abnormal leakage of contrast agent from blood vessels into brain tissue due to blood-brain barrier disruption.
Full Definition
Contrast extravasation occurs when contrast agents leak from the intravascular space into brain parenchyma due to blood-brain barrier breakdown. This phenomenon is pathological in most brain regions and indicates underlying disease processes such as tumor angiogenesis, inflammation, or ischemia-reperfusion injury. Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging can quantify extravasation rates, providing insights into blood-brain barrier integrity and treatment response in various neurological conditions.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from normal contrast enhancement, which occurs in regions lacking blood-brain barrier.
In Context
- "Delayed imaging revealed contrast extravasation consistent with blood-brain barrier disruption." — Post-contrast MRI report
- "Quantitative analysis showed increased contrast extravasation in the tumor periphery." — Research study
Also known as
contrast leakage
BBB disruption
Contrasted with
blood-brain barrier integrity
Don't confuse with
contrast enhancement
contrast accumulation