Comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine with gadopentetate dimeglumine for magnetic resonance imaging of liver tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To compare gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) with gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) for magnetic resonance imaging of the liver.


METHODS
The contrast agent Gd-BOPTA or Gd-DTPA was administered at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg to 257 patients suspected of having malignant liver tumors. Dynamic phase images, spin-echo images obtained within 10 minutes of injection, and delayed images obtained 40 to 120 minutes after injection were acquired. All postcontrast images were compared with unenhanced T1-weighted and T2-weighted images obtained immediately before injection. A full safety assessment was performed.


RESULTS
The contrast efficacy for dynamic phase imaging was moderately or markedly improved in 90.9% (110/121) and 87.9% (109/124) of patients for Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA, respectively. At 40 to 120 minutes after injection, the cor- responding improvements were 21.7% (26/120) and 11.6% (14/121) for spin-echo sequences and 44.5% (53/119) and 19.0% (23/121) for breath-hold gradient-echo sequences, respectively. The differences at 40 to 120 minutes after injection were statistically significant (P < 0.02). Increased information at 40 to 120 minutes after injection compared with information acquired within 10 minutes of injection was available for 24.0% (29/121) of patients with Gd-BOPTA and for 14.5% (18/124) of patients with Gd-DTPA (P < 0.03). Adverse events were seen in 4.7% (6/128) and 1.6% (2/127) of patients receiving Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of Gd-BOPTA is equivalent to that of Gd-DTPA for liver imaging during the dynamic phase and superior during the delayed (40-120 minutes) phase of contrast enhancement. Both agents are safe for use in magnetic resonance imaging of the liver.
Kuwatsuru
R
R
Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 3-1-3 Bunkyo-ku Hongo, Tokyo 113.8431, Japan. rkuwatsuru@hkg.odn.ne.jp
Kadoya
M
M
Ohtomo
K
K
Tanimoto
A
A
Hirohashi
S
S
Murakami
T
T
Tanaka
Y
Y
Yoshikawa
K
K
Katayama
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000009:adverse effects; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA