Pulse repetition time and contrast enhancement: simulation study of Gd-BOPTA and conventional contrast agent at different field strengths.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate theoretically enhancement and optimal pulse repetition times for Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA enhanced brain imaging at 0.23, 1.5, and 3.0 T.


METHODS
The theoretical relaxation times of unenhanced, conventional contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) and new generation contrast agent (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced glioma were calculated. Then, simulation of the signals and contrasts as a function of concentration and pulse repetition time (TR) in spin echo sequence was done at 0.23, 1.5, and 3.0 T. The effect of echo time (TE) on tumor-white matter contrast was also clarified. Three patient cases were imaged at 0.23 T as a test of principle.


RESULTS
Gd-BOPTA may give substantially better glioma-to-white matter contrast than Gd-DTPA but is more sensitive to the length of TR. These characteristics are accentuated at 0.23 T. Optimal TR lengths are shorter for Gd-BOPTA than for Gd-DTPA enhanced imaging at all field strengths. TR optimized for Gd-DTPA may thus give suboptimal contrast in Gd-BOPTA enhanced imaging. Higher enhancement with Gd-BOPTA is further accentuated by short TE.


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate TRs at 0.23 T appear to be approximately 300 to 400 milliseconds and 250 to 300 milliseconds, at 1.5 T 500 to 600 milliseconds and 400 to 450 milliseconds and at 3.0 T 550 to 650 milliseconds and 475 to 525 milliseconds using Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA, respectively. For Gd-BOPTA enhanced imaging, it seems justified to optimize TR according to contrast and seek options like parallel excitation (Hadamard encoding) for increasing the number of slices and SNR.
Yrjänä
Sanna K
SK
Department of Neurosurgery, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. sanna.yrjana@oulu.fi
Vaara
Teuvo
T
Karttunen
Ari
A
Koivukangas
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA