Cesare Colosimo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Gianpaolo Pirovano, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Barry Hogstrom, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Miles A. Kirchin PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alberto Spinazzi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), a contrast agent with high in vivo T1-relaxivity (9.7 mmol–1s–1) with gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) for enhancement and visualization of central nervous system (CNS) lesions in pediatric patients.

A total of 63 pediatric patients with CNS (brain and spine) lesions received 0.1 mmol/kg BW doses of either Gd-BOPTA (n=29; mean age 7.5±4.8 years) or Gd-DTPA (n=34; mean age 7.9±4.7 years). MR images were acquired before (T1+T2wSE) and within 10 minutes (T1wSE) of contrast agent injection. Blinded unpaired and paired qualitative assessment in 26 (Gd-BOPTA) and 32 (Gd-DTPA) patients was performed to compare pre- to post-dose changes in quality of lesion visualization (5-point scales for border delineation, visualization of internal morphology, contrast enhancement). Quantitative evaluation in 19 (Gd-BOPTA) and 23 (Gd-DTPA) patients was performed to compare changes in lesion-to-background ratio (L/B), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and % enhancement (%En).

Unpaired post-dose scores for lesion border delineation, visualization of internal morphology and contrast enhancement were 3.3±0.6, 3.4±0.6 and 3.4±0.6 for Gd-BOPTA, respectively, and 3.1±0.7, 3.4±0.6 and 3.1±0.7 for Gd-DTPA, respectively. The pre- to post-dose changes were significantly superior for Gd-BOPTA compared to Gd-DTPA for border delineation (p=0.018) and contrast enhancement (p=0.006) and equivalent for visualization of internal morphology (p=0.126). Paired assessments revealed non-significant superiority for Gd-BOPTA for border delineation and visualization of internal morphology and significant superiority for contrast enhancement (p=0.04). Significantly better performance for Gd-BOPTA was noted also for lesion-by-lesion assessments of border delineation and contrast enhancement (p<0.01, all assessments). Mean post-dose values for L/B, CNR and %En were all superior for Gd-BOPTA compared to Gd-DTPA (0.5±0.4 vs. 0.3±0.4; 9.1±15.4 vs. 2.2±9.9; 66.6±47.4 vs. 42.8±39.0, respectively).

Gd-BOPTA demonstrates qualitative and quantitative superiority over Gd-DTPA for contrast enhancement of CNS lesions in pediatric patients.

M.A.K.,A.S.,G.P.,B.H.: These authors are emloyees of Bracco Diagnostics Inc. or Bracco Imaging SpA

Colosimo, C, Pirovano, G, Hogstrom, B, Kirchin, M, Spinazzi, A, Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging of Pediatric CNS: Comparison of Gadobenate Dimeglumine and Gadopentetate Dimeglumine for Lesion Enhancement.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4413271.html