Contrast Agent-Induced High Signal Intensity in Dentate Nucleus on Unenhanced T1-Weighted Images: Comparison of Gadodiamide and Gadoxetic Acid.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an association exists between T1-signal increase in the dentate nucleus (DN) on unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging and previous administration of gadoxetic acid and gadodiamide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board; the requirement for informed patient consent was waived. A total of 132 patients (male-female ratio, 86:46; mean age, 68.8 ± 11.6 years) who underwent imaging between December 2000 and April 2016 were divided into 4 groups: patients with 5 or more administrations of gadoxetic acid ("gadoxetic acid ≥5 administrations" group), only 1 administration of gadoxetic acid ("gadoxetic acid 1 administration" group), no gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration or chronic liver disease (CLD; "no GBCA administration and no CLD" group), and 5 or more administrations of gadodiamide ("gadodiamide ≥5 administrations" group). Unenhanced T1-weighted images were quantitatively analyzed by 2 radiologists. Intergroup comparison of DN-to-pons signal intensity ratios was performed by the Dunn test, with the no GBCA administration and no CLD group as control. Interobserver agreement was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients.

RESULTS:

The DN-to-pons ratio of the "gadodiamide ≥5 administrations" group was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) and those of the "gadoxetic acid ≥5 administrations" and "gadoxetic acid 1 administration" groups did not differ significantly (P = 0.3912 and 1.0000, respectively) compared with the DN-to-pons ratio of the "no GBCA administration and no CLD" group. The interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient for measurement of DN-to-pons ratio was excellent (0.835; 95% confidence interval, 0.767-0.883).

CONCLUSIONS:

Hyperintensity in the DN on unenhanced T1-weighted images is associated with previous administration of gadodiamide but not gadoxetic acid. Although the number of administrations for the 2 GBCA groups was identical, the administered dose of gadoxetic acid was only a quarter the amount of gadolinium as those with gadodiamide. This difference might influence the results of this study.

• Authors: Shintaro Ichikawa, Utaroh Motosugi, Yoshie Omiya, Hiroshi Onishi
• Journal: Investigative radiology (Invest Radiol) Vol. 52 Issue 7 Pg. 389-395 (07 2017) ISSN: 1536-0210 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28195932 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA
• gadodiamide
• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cerebellar Nuclei (diagnostic imaging, drug effects)
• Contrast Media (pharmacology)
• Female
• Gadolinium DTPA (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Image Enhancement (methods)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies