The effect of paramagnetic contrast agents is to shorten the T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times of hydrogen nuclei in water. As hydrogen nuclei come into the vicinity of the Gd-DTPA molecule or as water binds briefly to the Gd-chelate molecule, the T1, T2, and T2* of hydrogen are shortened. Because the fractional change in relaxation times is greater for T1 than for T2, T1-weighted sequences have traditionally been used in conjunction with Gd-chelates.16 Since shorter T1 values make tissues brighter, Gd-chelates are a positive contrast agents, making enhancing lesions brighter on T1-weighted pulse sequences. By subtracting pre-contrast images from post-contrast images, vessels and extracellular spaces in the vicinity of vascular lesions are highlighted as bright compared to tissues that have little or no uptake of contrast agent.