title: Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, intra-individual crossover comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine in MRI of brain tumors at 3 tesla.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively compare 0.1 mmol/kg doses of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine for contrast-enhanced MRI of brain lesions at 3 Tesla (T).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six randomized patients underwent a first examination with gadobenate dimeglumine (n = 23) or gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 23) and then, after 2-7 days, a second examination with the other agent. Contrast administration (volume, rate), sequence parameters (T1wSE; T1wGRE), and interval between injection and image acquisition were identical for examinations in each patient. Three blinded neuroradiologists evaluated images qualitatively (lesion delineation, lesion enhancement, global preference) and quantitatively (lesion-to-brain ratio [LBR], contrast-to-noise ratio [CNR], % lesion enhancement). Differences were assessed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Reader agreement was determined using kappa (kappa) statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no demographic differences between groups. The three readers preferred gadobenate dimeglumine globally in 22 (53.7%), 21 (51.2%), and 27 (65.9%) patients, respectively, compared with 0, 1, and 0 patients for gadopentetate dimeglumine. Similar significant (P < 0.001) preference was expressed for lesion border delineation and enhancement. Reader agreement was consistently good (kappa = 0.48-0.64). Significantly (P < 0.05) higher LBR (+43.5- 61.2%), CNR (+51.3-147.6%), and % lesion enhancement (+45.9-49.5%) was noted with gadobenate dimeglumine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain lesion depiction at 3T is significantly improved with 0.1 mmol/kg gadobenate dimeglumine.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Radiology, Charleston, SC, USA. rumbolz@musc.edu
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rumboldt
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maldjian
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruscalleda
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA