Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): evaluation of three different contrast agents at two different doses (0.05 and 0.1 mmol/kg) in pigs at 1.5 Tesla.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the image quality of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) of the supra-aortic vessels at 0.05 mmol/kg bw and 0.1 mmol/kg bw, between gadobutrol, Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA quantitatively and qualitatively a total of eight pigs were evaluated intraindividually at 1.5 T.


METHODS
Each pig was examined using 0.1 mmol/kg gadobutrol, Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA on day one and 0.05 mmol/kg on day two. MRA datasets for the carotid artery and the infraorbital artery were qualitatively assessed regarding overall image quality on an ordinal four-point scale (4-excellent, 1-non-diagnostic). The signal-to noise-ratio (SNR) was measured.


RESULTS
The qualitative assessment of the carotid artery showed a higher median image quality for the 0.1 mmol dose than for the 0.05 mmol dose for all three compounds. No difference was found for the infraorbital artery. Mean SNR of Gd-BOPTA, Gd-DTPA, gadobutrol at 0.05 mmol/kg were 36.0 ± 13.4/37.9 ± 16.3/43.7 ± 0.4 and at 0.1 mmol/kg they were 50.1 ± 12.4/46.6 ± 6.5 / 54.6 ± 10.2. Gd-BOPTA 0.05 revealed a significantly lower SNR than all other agents at normal dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Full-dose gadolinium MRA results in higher image quality and significantly higher SNR compared with the half dose. Gadobutrol and Gd-BOPTA have similar enhancement properties at full dose but at half dose, gadobutrol appears superior.
Voth
M
M
Diagnostic Imaging, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany.
Michaely
Henrik J
HJ
Schwenke
C
C
Vos
B
B
Pietsch
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium
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