Using a 1 M Gd-chelate (gadobutrol) for total-body three-dimensional MR angiography: preliminary experience.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether higher concentrated gadolinium chelates are advantageous for the recently introduced concept of total-body magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), allowing whole-body coverage, extending from the carotid arteries to the runoff vessels, in merely 72 seconds.


METHODS
Total-body three-dimensional (3D) MRA using a 1 M Gd-chelate (gadobutrol, Gadovist, Schering, Berlin, Germany) at a dosage of 0.2 mmol/kg body-weight (biphasic injection protocol: 1.3 mL/second and 0.7 mL/second) was performed on three healthy volunteers and ten consecutive patients with DSA-documented peripheral vascular disease. Separated by at least 72 hours, the three healthy volunteers also underwent the same MRA-protocol, using gadopentetate dimeglumine in equimolar dosages.


RESULTS
Compared to equimolar dosages, mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values in the three volunteers were significantly higher (up to 32.5% for the arteries of the thighs and calves) using gadobutrol. In the ten patients, gadobutrol-based total-body MRA accurately assessed significant stenoses (luminal narrowing > 50%) with sensitivities and specificities of 96.2% (95% CI 0.83-0.97) and 95.7% (95% CI 0.84-0.96), respectively, compared to digital subtraction angiography.


CONCLUSIONS
The MRA image quality for total-body MRA provided by the administration of gadobutrol is superior to that obtained following administration of an identical dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine, and therefore shows promise for use as a comprehensive single exam assessing the entire arterial system for the presence of atherosclerotic disease manifestations.
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. mathias.goyen@uni-essen.de
Mathias
M
Goyen
Christoph U
CU
Herborn
Florian M
FM
Vogt
Knut
K
Kröger
Rüdiger
R
Verhagen
Fan
F
Yang
Silke
S
Bosk
Jörg F
JF
Debatin
Stefan G
SG
Ruehm
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol