Focal malignant hepatic lesions: MR imaging enhanced with gadolinium benzyloxypropionictetra-acetate (BOPTA)--preliminary results of phase II clinical application.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate enhancement with gadolinium benzyloxypropionictetraacetate (BOPTA) at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect focal malignant hepatic lesions.


METHODS
A phase II trial was performed in 34 patients. Gd-BOPTA-enhanced spin-echo (SE) and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) T1-weighted MR imaging were performed at 40 and 90 minutes after intravenous injection of 0.05 and 0.10 mmol/kg Gd-BOPTA.


RESULTS
The percentage of enhancement in liver parenchyma was significantly (P<.05) increased on GRE T1-weighted compared with SE T1-weighted images at 40 and 90 minutes after injection of the higher dose and compared with SE and GRE T1-weighted images obtained with the lower dose. The contrast-to-noise ratio of metastases was significantly increased on GRE T1-weighted images (0.10 mmol/kg) at 90 minutes compared with precontrast images. Significantly more small primary metastases were detected on GRE T1-weighted images (0.10 mmol/kg) at 90 minutes compared with precontrast SE T1-weighted images.


CONCLUSIONS
Gd-BOPTA is a safe hepatobiliary contrast agent that helps detection of small metastases.
Caudana
R
R
Department of Radiology, University of Verona, Italy.
Morana
G
G
Pirovano
G P
GP
Nicoli
N
N
Portuese
A
A
Spinazzi
A
A
Di Rito
R
R
Pistolesi
G F
GF
D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine