Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) vs gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): improvement in intravascular signal intensity and contrast to noise ratio.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare contrast enhanced MR angiography (MRA) with gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) to MRA with gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), a high relaxivity paramagnetic contrast agent.


METHODS
Twelve patients referred for carotid artery stenosis were examined with MR angiography using a fast spoiled gradient echo sequence. Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA enhanced MR angiography were performed within 48-72 hours using a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg for Gd-BOPTA and 0.2 mmol/kg for Gd-DTPA, at a flow rate of 2 ml/s. Images were evaluated by two blinded radiologists. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed comparing the sets of images from the two examinations.


RESULTS
Qualitative evaluation demonstrated superior arterial contrast enhancement and vessel conspicuity with Gd-BOPTA compared with Gd-DTPA. Quantita-tive evaluation showed an improvement in both signal intensity and contrast to noise ratio with Gd-BOPTA.


CONCLUSIONS
The greater relaxivity of Gd-BOPTA, at lower doses, compared with Gd-DTPA, provides higher intravascular signal and signal to noise ratio. Gd-BOPTA appears to be an optimal contrast agent for contrast enhanced MRA.
Pediconi
Federica
F
II Cattedra di Radiologia, Univrersità degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. federica.pediconi@uniromal.it
Fraioli
Francesco
F
Catalano
Carlo
C
Napoli
Alessandro
A
Danti
Massimiliano
M
Francone
Marco
M
Venditti
Fiammetta
F
Nardis
Piergiorgio
P
Passariello
Roberto
R
D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA