Figure 1a. Fast SE STIR images of a 1-month-old girl before (a) and after (b) administration of gadolinium. Normally bright renal parenchyma decreases in signal because of the T1-shortening effect of gadolinium (negative enhancement effect). Pathologic lesions that take up gadolinium may similarly decrease in signal and become inconspicuous on contrast material-enhanced fast SE STIR images.