Prospective comparison of image quality and diagnostic accuracy of 0.5 molar gadobenate dimeglumine and 1.0 molar gadobutrol in contrast-enhanced run-off magnetic resonance angiography of the lower extremities.

PURPOSE: To compare image quality and diagnostic accuracy of 0.5 molar gadobenate dimeglumine and 1.0 molar gadobutrol in contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the lower extremities interindividually. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before enrollment in the study. We prospectively included 74 patients (21 women, 53 men; mean age ± SD: 67.9 ± 11.0 years) with suspected peripheral occlusive vascular disease. All patients underwent a contrast-enhanced MRA of both lower extremities with either 0.1 mL/kg body weight gadobutrol or gadobenate dimeglumine. Image quality, stenosis grade, and artifacts were assessed by two blinded, independent investigators. Signal intensity (SI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured by a third investigator. Contrast agent groups were compared to each other using a two-sided Student's t-test. RESULTS: The results did not show significant differences for SI, SNR, or CNR. Both investigators were in significant accordance (P < 0.05) with regard to stenosis detection. CONCLUSION: We conclude that application of standard clinical doses (0.1 mL/kg body weight) of both contrast agents provides similar diagnostic results and gadolinium dose could be reduced by the application of a single dose of gadobenate dimeglumine for CE run-off MRA.