Background: Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium-based contrast agents is widely used for the detection of cerebral metastases with standard contrast agents. Newer developments in MR contrast agents have led to a higher relaxivity and/or concentration for these agents.
Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of a standard dose of 1.0 M gadobutrol compared with a standard dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine for the MR detection of brain metastases.
Material and methods: 27 patients with at least one cerebral metastasis were examined twice with contrast-enhanced MR imaging, using gadobutrol at 0.1 ml/kg and gadopentetate dimeglumine at 0.2 ml/kg (i.e., identical gadolinium dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg bodyweight). The interval between examinations was 18 hours, and the order of injection was fully randomized. Images were acquired using a three-dimensional (3D) fast gradient echo sequence, and evaluated in blinded fashion by two experienced neuroradiologists in consensus in terms of the total number of lesions detected at each examination in each patient and qualitatively in terms of the lesion conspicuity observed.
Results: A total of 67 lesions were detected after gadobutrol compared with 65 lesions detected after gadopentetate dimeglumine. In two patients, a lesion was seen only after gadobutrol. Qualitative comparison of images revealed improved lesion conspicuity after gadobutrol in 10/27 cases compared with 0/27 cases after gadopentetate dimeglumine, and equivalent conspicuity in 17/27 cases (P=0.002, gadobutrol vs. gadopentetate dimeglumine).
Conclusion: At equal gadolinium dosage, gadobutrol appears to offer significant advantages over gadopentetate dimeglumine for the visualization of brain metastases, with particular benefit for improving the conspicuity of detected lesions.