Breath-hold gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography of the major vessels at 1.0 T: dose-response findings and angiographic correlation.
OBJECTIVE
To find the appropriate contrast agent dose for gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography by using individual measurement of contrast agent transit times in a randomized study.


METHODS
A total of 34 patients with disease of the aorta or its major branches or both were randomly assigned to receive a dose of 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mmol of gadopentetate dimeglumine per kilogram of body weight. Initially, contrast agent transit times were measured with use of a turbo fast-low-angle-shot sequence. Subsequently, a three-dimensional fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence (7.3-msec repetition time, 2.8-msec echo time) was used for breath-hold MR angiography. Gadopentetate dimeglumine was injected with an MR-compatible power injector. Efficacy was evaluated by measurement of vessel enhancement and by clinical correlation of MR angiograms with x-ray angiograms.


RESULTS
Evaluation of contrast agent transit time was possible in all patients with the test doses, which provided contrast-enhanced MR angiograms of constant quality. Neither vessel enhancement nor diagnostic information was significantly different across the these study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical gadolinium dose of 0.1 mmol/kg is sufficient for diagnostic assessment of the aorta and its major branches at contrast-enhanced MR angiography. High-dose studies appear not to be required for these large vessels.
Institute of Clinical Radiology, Westfalian Wilhelms-University, Muenster, Germany.
M G
MG
Lentschig
P
P
Reimer
U L
UL
Rausch-Lentschig
T
T
Allkemper
M
M
Oelerich
G
G
Laub
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001027:Aortography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA