Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography with Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA in healthy subjects

Purpose: To evaluate the biliary enhancement dynamics of the two gadolinium chelates Gd-BOPTA ( MultiHance (R)) and Gd-EOB-DTPA ( Primovist (R)) in normal healthy subjects. Material and Methods: Ten healthy volunteers were evaluated with both agents by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5T using a breath-hold gradient-echo T1-weighted VIBE sequence. The relative signal intensity ( SI) differences between the common hepatic duct (CHD) and liver parenchyma were measured before and 10, 20, 30, 40, 130, 240, and 300 min after contrast medium injection. Results: Biliary enhancement was obvious 10 min post-injection for Gd- EOB-DTPA and was noted at 20 min for Gd- BOPTA. At 40 min delay, Gd- BOPTA reached its peak biliary enhancement, but at neither 30 nor 40 min delay was there any significant difference compared with that of Gd- EOB-DTPA. At later delays, the contrast between CHD and liver continued to increase for Gd- EOB-DTPA, whereas it decreased for Gd-BOPTA. Conclusion: The earlier onset and longer duration of a high contrast between CHD and liver for Gd- EOB-DTPA facilitates examination of hepatobiliary excretion. Therefore, Gd- EOB-DTPA may provide adequate hepatobiliary imaging within a shorter time span than Gd- BOPTA and facilitate scheduling at the MR unit. Further studies in patients are required to compare the imaging advantages of Gd- EOB-DTPA and Gd- BOPTA in clinical practice.