Javier Arnaiz Garcia MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Loewe MD, Abstract Co-Author: Speaker, Bracco Group Speaker, Guerbet SA Speaker, General Electric Company Speaker, Covidien AG Speaker, Bayer AG Speaker, Siemens AG

Denis Krause MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Luis Marti-Bonmati MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Haneder MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ulrich Kramer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Armando Tartaro MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

This subanalysis of a multicenter trial aimed to compare the SNR and CNR between the gadolinium MR contrast agents gadoterate meglumine and gadobutrol, for contrast-enhanced MRA in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

This multicentre trial including 189 patients was primarily aimed to compare the degrees of agreement in stenosis detection between contrast enhanced-MRA and DSA using two different contrast agents (Dotarem® or Gadovist®). In this subanalysis, quantitative arterial signal intensity and signal/contrast to noise ratios (SNR/CNR) were calculated before and after intravenous gadoterate meglumine (0.1mmol/Kg) and gadobutrol (0.1mmol/Kg). Furthermore, parameters related to stenosis detection and grading, specificity, sensitivity, positive/negative predictive values calculation (accuracy parameters), factors important for treatment planning and patient outcome were investigated. These factors included diagnostic confidence, stenosis length, and vessel diameter. Image data from 156 patients eligible for evaluation (per protocol population) were assessed by two independent readers in a centralized reading.

No significant differences for gadoterate meglumine and gadobutrol were found comparing both groups in arterial SI (1167+/-930 vs 1243+/-964, p =0.19), SNR (165+/-200 vs 161+/-201,p=0.72) and CNR (159+/-198 vs 155+/-199, p=0.73). Both contrast agents were well tolerated.

Contrast media with higher Gd concentration have been proposed to be advantageous as far as efficacy is concerned. However, the present study demonstrated the feasibility of PAOD evaluation at 3T and the lack of superiority of gadobutrol over gadoterate meglumine in terms of diagnostic accuracy.

The present study demonstrated the lack of superiority of gadobutrol over gadoterate meglumine in terms of arterial SI, SNR and CNR despite the different Gd-concentrations and T1 relaxivities exhibited by the two contrast agents at 3T in peripheral MRA.

Arnaiz Garcia, J, Loewe, C, Krause, D, Marti-Bonmati, L, Haneder, S, Kramer, U, Tartaro, A, Contrast-enhanced MRA of the Peripheral Arteries at 3T: Comparison of SNR and CNR Gain between Gadoterate Meglumine and Gadobutrol-MRA in a Large European Multicenter Trial.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14018309.html