Boris Buerke MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Bernhard Bremer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Evers, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Allkemper MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Walter Leonhard Heindel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bernd Tombach MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The formulation of gadolinium-chelates widely differs (e.g. relaxivity, blood-pool-effect) and may thus have substantial impact on image quality of CE-MRA. The purpose of this prospective intraindividual clinical comparative study was to evaluate the performance of 4 clinically approved contrast agents for CE-MRA of the supraaortic arteries with respect to image quality and SNR/CNR.

Eleven patients presenting with cephalgies received four different contrast agents in (Gadovist®; Omniscan® each 0.1 mmol/kg bw; Multihance®; 0.05mmol/kg bw and Vasovist®; 0.03 mmol/kg bw; each 2 ml/s) for consecutive CE-MRAs of the supraaortic arteries. The CE-MRAs were performed on a clinical 1.5 T scanner (1.5 Intera®, Philips Medical Systems, The Netherlands). To ensure a sufficient clearance of the contrast agents the time interval between two injections was 24h. For qualitative analysis the image quality and contrast level was ranked by 2 radiologists in consensus using a five-point-scale. For quantitative analysis signal intensity (SI) and standard deviation (SD) were measured in corresponding slice positions of all data sets and SNR and CNR were calculated.

Qualitative analysis documented a diagnostic image quality for all CE-MRA. The comparative ranking regarding image contrast level showed slightly superior contrast levels for Gadovist® and Vasovist® as compared to Multihance® and Omniscan®. However, SNR and CNR showed no significant differences between all contrast agents (p>0,05), (SNR/CNR: Gadovist® 18,8±7,4/15,6±5,9; Omniscan® 18,1±6,4/15,2±7,1; Multihance® 16,7±5,8/14,3±5,7; Vasovist® 20,2±6,4/16,2±5,8).

All analysed contrast agents provided a diagnostic image qualitiy in CE-MRA of SNR and CNR of the supraaortic arteries regarding the qualitative analysis of SNR and CNR. Subjective ranking of image quality was slightly superior for Gadovist® and Vasovist® in the investigated doses.

CE-MRA of the supraaortic arteries has become common in clinical routine indicating the necessity of optimal contrast agent perfomance as result of an intraindividual comparative study.

Buerke, B, Bremer, C, Evers, S, Allkemper, T, Heindel, W, Tombach, B, Prospective, Intraindividual Comparison of four Contrast Agents for CE-MRA of the Supra-aortic Arteries .  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6012735.html