Comparison of MS-325- and gadodiamide-enhanced MR venography of iliocaval veins.
OBJECTIVE
To compare conventional extracellular and blood-pool magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents in "indirect" contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR venography of the iliocaval veins.


METHODS
Twenty-nine gadodiamide-enhanced 3D MR (Gd-MR) angiography studies and 12 MS-325-enhanced 3D MR (MS-325-MR) angiography studies were reviewed retrospectively. Abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) or iliac veins were not suspected before MR imaging. The MR angiography studies were reviewed with and without subtraction. Diagnostic conspicuity and subjective contrast of the various iliocaval venous segments (suprarenal IVC, infrarenal IVC, and iliac veins) and the presence of artifacts were subjectively scored by two blinded observers.


RESULTS
In the Gd-MR angiography group, the infrarenal IVC and iliac veins were visualized with good conspicuity in only 55% of segments compared to 92%-100% of segments in the MS-325-MR angiography group. Although subtraction improved subjective conspicuity and contrast relative to background in the Gd-MR angiography group, it resulted in increased artifacts and luminal blurring. Subtraction offered little diagnostic advantage in the MS-325-MR angiography group.


CONCLUSIONS
Indirect contrast-enhanced 3D MR venography with use of MS-325 offered significantly improved diagnostic conspicuity and contrast in iliocaval venous opacification compared to gadodiamide-enhanced studies.
Sharafuddin
Melhem J
MJ
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 3889 JPP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. mel-sharafuddin@uiowa.edu
Stolpen
Alan H
AH
Dang
Yvonne M
YM
Andresen
Kelli J
KJ
Roh
Byung-Suk
BS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064925:gadodiamide; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium