title: Comparison of three different injection methods for arterial phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR imaging of the liver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare three different injection methods for optimizing hepatic arterial phase of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced MR imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arterial phase images were obtained after the injection of contrast agent at a rate of 3 mL/s with diluted Gd-EOB-DTPA (dilution method) in 27 patients, 3 mL/s with undiluted Gd-EOB-DTPA (3 mL method) in 26 patients and 1 mL/s with undiluted Gd-EOB-DTPA (1 mL method) in 28 patients. In the quantitative evaluation, signal-to-phantom ratios (SPR) of the liver parenchyma, pancreas, renal cortex, portal vein and aorta were evaluated. In the qualitative evaluation, the seven items for image quality of hepatic arterial phase were assessed, and the total score of all items in each subject was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The score of enhancement of abdominal aorta and total score of seven items in 1 mL method were significantly higher than those in 3 mL method. The SPR of the liver parenchyma in 3 mL method was significantly higher than that in 1 mL method, suggesting substantial hepatic inflow from portal venous return.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the optimal arterial phase imaging, injection rate of 1 mL/s with undiluted Gd-EOB-DTPA is convenient and preferable, compared with other two methods, based on our qualitative analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki city, Okayama, 701-0192, Japan. ttamada@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamada
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.forename: Daigo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Higashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA