Comparison of Dynamic Contrast-Enhancement Parameters between Gadobutrol and Gadoterate Meglumine in Posttreatment Glioma: A Prospective Intraindividual Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Differences in molecular properties between one-molar and half-molar gadolinium-based contrast agents are thought to affect parameters obtained from dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. The aim of our study was to investigate differences in dynamic contrast-enhanced parameters between one-molar nonionic gadobutrol and half-molar ionic gadoterate meglumine in patients with posttreatment glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 32 patients who underwent 2 20-minute dynamic contrast-enhanced examinations, one with gadobutrol and one with gadoterate meglumine. The model-free parameter of area under the signal intensity curve from 30 to 1100seconds and the Tofts model-based pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and compared intraindividually using paired t tests. Patients were further divided into progression (n=12) and stable (n=20) groups, which were compared using Student t tests. RESULTS: Gadobutrol and gadoterate meglumine did not show any significant differences in the area under the signal intensity curve or pharmacokinetic parameters of K-trans, V-e, V-p, or K-ep (all P>.05). Gadobutrol showed a significantly higher mean wash-in rate (0.83 0.64 versus 0.29 +/- 0.63, P=.013) and a significantly lower mean washout rate (0.001 +/- 0.0001 versus 0.002 +/- 0.002, P=.02) than gadoterate meglumine. Trends toward higher area under the curve, K-trans, V-e, V-p, wash-in, and washout rates and lower K-ep were observed in the progression group in comparison with the treatment-related-change group, regardless of the contrast agent used. CONCLUSIONS: Model-free and pharmacokinetic parameters did not show any significant differences between the 2 gadolinium-based contrast agents, except for a higher wash-in rate with gadobutrol and a higher washout rate with gadoterate meglumine, supporting the interchangeable use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging in patients with posttreatment glioma.