title: Albumin-binding MR blood pool contrast agent improves diagnostic performance in human brain tumour: comparison of two contrast agents for glioblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We qualitatively and quantitatively compared MRI enhancement obtained with gadofosveset, an albumin-binding blood-pool contrast agent, and with gadobutrol, an extracellular contrast agent, in patients with glioblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients (25 men; 64 ± 14 years) with histologically proven glioblastoma underwent MRI including pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted SE images acquired 5 min after gadobutrol (0.1 mmol/kg) and, 48 h later, images acquired with identical parameters 5 min and 3, 6, and 24 h after gadofosveset (0.03 mmol/kg). Lesion extent, delineation, internal morphology, multifocality, and global diagnostic preference were evaluated quantitatively for the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and contrast enhancement (CE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of SNR, CNR, and tumour CE were highest 6 h after gadofosveset. Multifocality was seen in 17 (48.6 %) patients; additional lesions had stronger enhancement 6 h after gadofosveset in 12 patients (70.6 %). In 21 (60 %) patients, radiologists' global preference was highest in images acquired 6 h after gadofosveset (kappa = 0.764). In 22 patients (62.8 %), all qualitative endpoints were better at 5 min after gadobutrol than in images acquired 5 min after gadofosveset injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gadobutrol gives significant tumour enhancement in early postcontrast imaging. However, images acquired 6 h after gadofosveset injection have significantly better diagnostic information endpoints and contrast enhancement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (IDI), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr Josep Trueta, Av de Francia s/n, 17007 Girona, Spain. jpuigalcantara@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essig
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daunis-I-Estadella
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laguillo
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Quiles
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Remollo
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernado
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-González
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pedraza
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium