Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, intra-individual crossover comparison of gadobenate dimeglumine and gadopentetate dimeglumine in MRI of brain tumors at 3 tesla.
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.
Rumboldt
Zoran
Z
Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Radiology, Charleston, SC, USA. rumbolz@musc.edu
Rowley
Howard A
HA
Steinberg
Fred
F
Maldjian
Joseph A
JA
Ruscalleda
Jordi
J
Gustafsson
Lars
L
Bastianello
Stefano
S
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
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA