title: Optimization of contrast dosage for gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced high-resolution whole-body 3D magnetic resonance angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal dose of gadobenate dimeglumine for diagnostic high-resolution whole-body 3D-MR angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy volunteers were examined three times with an ascending dose of Gd-BOPTA (0.1/0.2/0.3 mmol/kg BW). Three-dimensional data sets were collected with a rolling table platform (AngioSURF; MR-Innovation GmbH, Essen, Germany) which integrates the torso surface coil, using a 3D FLASH sequence at five stations from carotid arteries to the trifurcation vessels in 72 seconds. SNR- and contrast-to-noise-values were calculated for 30 segments per patient. For qualitative evaluation a 4-point-visualization scale was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, significantly (P < 0.05) higher signal-to-noise values and CNR values were determined for Gd-BOPTA at a dose of 0.2 and 0.3 mmol/kg compared with 0.1 mmol/kg. Similarly, the qualitative analysis demonstrated image quality to be superior with 0.2 and 0.3 mmol/kg compared with 0.1 mmol/kg (P < 0.05). Qualitative and quantitative assessment failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference between 0.2 and 0.3 mmol/kg BW (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dose of 0.2 mmol/kg BW Gd-BOPTA rendered diagnostic image quality in all vascular segments of all volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. mathias.goyen@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goyen
authors.forename: Christoph U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Herborn
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lauenstein
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barkhausen
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veit
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosk
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debatin
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ruehm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D005682:Gadolinium