Michele Anzidei MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Alessandro Napoli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fulvio Zaccagna MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gaia Cartocci, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Beatrice Cavallo Marincola MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carlo Catalano MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare a standard gadobenate dimeglumine dose (0.1 mmol/kg BW) at 1.5T with a low gadobenate dimeglumine dose (0.05 mmol/kg BW) at 3T in terms of image quality and diagnostic accuracy for contrast-enhanced MR-angiography (CE-MRA) of the peripheral vessels relative to CT-angiography (CTA).

60 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 30 subjects. Group 1 underwent CE-MRA at 1.5T using a standard 0.1 mmol/kg dose of gadobenate dimeglumine while group 2 underwent CE-MRA at 3T using a low 0.05 mmol/kg dose of gadobenate dimeglumine. All patients underwent CTA. Three blinded observers separately reviewed MRA datasets while one independent observer evaluated CTA images for the assessment of stenosis degree (>50%), extent and location. Signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were calculated for each MRA dataset. Interobserver agreement for CE-MRA was analyzed using Cohen-k statistics. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) was calculated for each group. Differences between groups were assessed using McNemar’s test.

Interobserver agreement was substantial for both image quality and stenosis assessment. Similar values for SNR and CNR were obtained for both groups (p>0.05). The sensitivity, specificity accuracy, PPV and NPV values of Group1/Group2 for stenosis assessment compared to CTA were 95/96%, 95/95% 97/97%, 96/95% and 97/97%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of groups 1 and 2 was not significantly different (p>0.05).

The image quality and diagnostic performance of CE-MRA with a low 0.05 mmol/kg BW dose of gadobenate dimeglumine at 3T is similar to that achieved with a standard 0.1 mmol/kg BW dose at 1.5 T.

Low dose CE-MRA of the peripheral arteries at 3T can be a feasible solution to contain examination costs and avoid risk of contrast agent related disorders in patients with impaired renal function.

Anzidei, M, Napoli, A, Zaccagna, F, Cartocci, G, Cavallo Marincola, B, Catalano, C, MR Angiography of the Peripheral Arteries with Gadobenate Dimeglumine: Comparison of Image Quality and Diagnostic Accuracy of a Standard Dose at 1.5 T versus a Low Dose at 3 T.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9009027.html