In vivo measurement of gadolinium concentration in a rat glioma model by monochromatic quantitative computed tomography: comparison between gadopentetate dimeglumine and gadobutrol.
OBJECTIVE
Monochromatic quantitative computed tomography allows a nondestructive and quantitative measurement of gadolinium (Gd) concentration. This technique was used in the C6 rat glioma model to compare gadopentetate dimeglumine and gadobutrol.


METHODS
Rats bearing late-stage gliomas received 2.5 mmol/kg (392.5 mg Gd/kg) of gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 5) and gadobutrol (n = 6) intravenously before the imaging session performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.


RESULTS
Monochromatic quantitative computed tomography enabled in vivo follow-up of Gd concentration as a function of time in specified regions of interest. Surprisingly, after gadobutrol injection, Gd concentrations in the center and periphery of the tumor were higher than those after gadopentetate injection, although identical in normal and contralateral area of the brain.


CONCLUSIONS
The in vivo assessment of absolute Gd concentrations revealed differences in gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine behaviors in tumoral tissues despite injections in the same conditions. These differences might be attributed to different characteristics of the contrast agents.
Le Duc
Géraldine
G
Medical Beamline, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Unité INSERM 647, CHU, BP217, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France. leduc@esrf.fr
Corde
Stéphanie
S
Charvet
Anne-Marie
AM
Elleaume
Hélène
H
Farion
Régine
R
Le Bas
Jean-François
JF
Estève
François
F
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000032:analysis*; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D051381:Rats; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA