Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the prostate: intraindividual comparison of gadoterate meglumine and gadobutrol

Objectives To intraindividually compare the signal-enhancing effect of 0.5 M gadoterate meglumine and 1.0 M gadobutrol in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE-MR) imaging of the prostate. Methods Fifty patients who underwent two 3-T MR examinations of the prostate were included in this IRB-approved retrospective uncontrolled, unrandomized study. All received two scans (mean time interval, 20.5 months) including T1-weighted DCE-MR imaging, one with 0.5 M gadoterate meglumine and one with 1.0 M gadobutrol. Equimolar doses of gadolinium (0.1 mmol/kg body weight) were administered with identical injection speed (2 mL/s), resulting in differing gadolinium delivery rate. An identical region of interest (ROItz) within a BPH-node was identified on both scans. The area under the time-enhancement curve of each ROItz from 0 to 180 s post contrast arrival and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Relative enhancement and signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios in the delayed phase at about 180 s were compared between both agents. Results There was a significantly larger area under the time-enhancement curve (5.53 vs 4.97 p = 0.0007) and higher relative enhancement of BPH nodules (2.23 vs 1.96 p < 0.0001) with gadobutrol compared with gadoterate meglumine. There were no significant differences in SNR (44.55 vs 37.63 p = 0.12), CNR (31.22 vs 26.39 p = 0.18), and pharmacokinetic parameters Ktrans (0.31 vs 0.32 p = 0.86), Ve (1.36 vs 0.98 p = 0.13), and Kep (0.34 vs 0.36 p = 0.12). Conclusions At equimolar doses, increased gadolinium delivery over time using gadobutrol provides higher relative enhancement parameters in BPH nodules compared with gadoterate meglumine, but does not translate into improved SNR or CNR. Key Points At equal injection rate and equimolar total dose, gadobutrol compared with gadoterate meglumine provides a significantly greater relative enhancement in DCE-MR imaging of BPH over the first 180 s. There are no significant differences in SNRs, CNRs, and pharmacokinetic parameters between the two GBCAs.