Optimization of breathing instructions and timing of late arterial phase acquisition on gadobutrol-enhanced MRI of the liver.
OBJECTIVE
To compare a protocol with higher concentration macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) [study group] to the traditional protocol with lower-concentration linear GBCAs [control group] for breath-held arterial phase magnetic resonance imaging.


METHODS
A total of 136 patients were quantitatively evaluated for image quality (IQ), breathing artifacts (BA), and timing of the arterial phase (Tap). Quantitative analysis was also performed.


RESULTS
No significant differences in IQ, BA and Tap (P>.05). Study group exhibited less enhancement of the aorta (P=.0091) and smaller standard deviation for the portal vein enhancement (P=.0173).


CONCLUSIONS
Similar arterial-phase image quality can be achieved with a macrocyclic GBCA compared to traditional linear GBCA.
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: daniella.pinho@utsouthwestern.edu.
Daniella F
DF
Pinho
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: nlevcohain@gmail.com.
Naama
N
Lev-Cohain
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: h_awdeh@hotmail.com.
Haitham
H
Awdeh
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: yin.xi@utsouthwestern.edu.
Yin
Y
Xi
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: gaurav.khatri@utsouthwestern.edu.
Gaurav
G
Khatri
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: takeshi.yokoo@utsouthwestern.edu.
Takeshi
T
Yokoo
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2201 Inwood Rd, 2nd Floor, Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75390-9085. Electronic address: ivan.pedrosa@utsouthwestern.edu.
Ivan
I
Pedrosa
D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016477:Artifacts; D062485:Breath Holding; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C090600:gadobutrol
Arterial phase; Gadobutrol; Liver; Magnetic resonance imaging