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Contrast-enhanced hepatic MRI: comparison of half-dose and standard-dose gadolinium DTPA administration in lesion
D R De Corato1, G A Krinsky, N M Rofsky
1Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10017, USA.
Abstract:
The objective of this article was to compare half-dose (0.05 mm/kg) gadolinium-enhanced dynamic hepatic MR imaging to standard doses (0.10 mm/kg). Eighteen patients for follow-up hepatic MR received 0.05 mm/kg of gadolinium DTPA dynamically with gradient-echo imaging. Imaging parameters were identical to a 0.10-mm/kg study; patients were imaged during multiple phases of contrast enhancement. Two readers assessed for enhancement patterns and characterization. Quantitative signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) were obtained for abdominal viscera and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/N) were obtained on up to three lesions. No significant difference for the arterial dominant phase (P > 0.05) was found. Significant differences were found in all categories during the portal venous phase (except pancreas) and equilibrium phase (except liver). Lesion C/N ratios were not significant at any point (P > 0.05). Sixty-two out of 64 lesions (97%) were identically characterized. Therefore, half-dose dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR may have diagnostic value.
Insights
Half-dose gadolinium-enhanced dynamic hepatic MRI shows diagnostic value. Reduced contrast doses (0.05 mm/kg) achieved similar lesion characterization to standard doses (0.10 mm/kg), suggesting potential for dose reduction in liver imaging.
Area of Science:
- Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Background:
- Gadolinium-based contrast agents are essential for dynamic hepatic MRI.
- Standard contrast doses may lead to increased costs and potential side effects.
- Evaluating reduced contrast doses is crucial for optimizing MRI protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic efficacy of half-dose (0.05 mm/kg) versus standard-dose (0.10 mm/kg) gadolinium-enhanced dynamic hepatic MRI.
- To assess image quality, enhancement patterns, and lesion characterization at reduced contrast volumes.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen patients undergoing follow-up hepatic MRI received half-dose gadolinium DTPA (0.05 mm/kg) with identical imaging parameters to standard-dose studies.
- Dynamic gradient-echo imaging was performed across multiple contrast enhancement phases.
- Two readers evaluated enhancement patterns, and quantitative signal-to-noise (S/N) and contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios were measured for viscera and lesions.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in enhancement was observed during the arterial dominant phase.
- Significant differences in enhancement were noted during the portal venous and equilibrium phases (excluding pancreas and liver, respectively).
- Lesion characterization remained consistent, with 97% of lesions identically characterized between the two dose groups (P > 0.05 for lesion C/N ratios).
Conclusions:
- Half-dose dynamic gadolinium-enhanced hepatic MRI demonstrates comparable diagnostic value to standard doses for lesion characterization.
- This finding suggests that reduced contrast agent administration may be a viable option in hepatic MRI follow-up.
- Further research could validate these findings and establish specific protocols for reduced-dose imaging.