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DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1692589
Potential Use of a Diluted High-relaxivity Gadolinium-based Intra-articular Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance Arthrography: An In-vitro Study
Publication History
Publication Date:
04 June 2019 (online)
Purpose: To test in vitro different concentrations of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) to be potentially used to perform magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA).
Methods and Materials: Gd-BOPTA was diluted in saline (NaCl 0.9%) to achieve different concentrations (4 mmol/l; 2 mmol/l; 1 mmol/l; 0.67 mmol/l; 0.5 mmol/l). Six sets of five sterile pipes were prepared with 5 ml of each solution, five sets added with 0.5 ml of fresh synovial fluid. Two separate pipes were prepared with 5ml of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) at 2 mmol/l, one pipe added with 0.5ml of synovial fluid. Pipes were imaged using a T1-weighted sequence at 1.5 T. For each pipe, signal intensity (SI) in arbitrary units (au) was measured.
Results: SI reproducibility range was 86%-99%. Mean Gd-BOPTA SI in pipes containing synovial fluid increased from 1236 ± 8 au (0.5 mmol/l) up to 1610 ± 44 au (1 mmol/l) and down to 1405 ± 33 au (4 mmol/l). Mean Gd-BOPTA SI in pipes without synovial fluid increased from 1184 ± 29 au (0.5 mmol/l) up to 1530 ± 38 au (1 mmol/l), and down to 1347 ± 39 au (4 mmol/l). SI of pipes without synovial fluid was lower than that of pipes with synovial fluid for both Gd-BOPTA and Gd-DTPA (P ≤ 0.002). Regarding pipes with synovial fluid, mean Gd-DTPA SI at 2 mmol/l was 1246 ± 27 au. Compared with Gd-BOPTA, SI was not different at 0.5 mmol/l (−0.2%, P = 0.587) while it was higher (P < 0.001) at all other concentrations (range +13.3%[4 mmol/l]±28.3%[1 mmol/l]). Regarding pipes without synovial fluid, mean Gd-DTPA SI at 2 mmol/l was 1275 ± 56 au. Compared with Gd-BOPTA, SI was lower at 0.5 mmol/l (−6.8%, P < 0.001), while it was higher (P < 0.001) at all other concentrations (range +6.1%[4 mmol/l]±19.6% [1 mmol/l]).
Conclusion: In vitro, Gd-BOPTA at 1 mmol/ had a +28% SI increase in comparison to Gd-DTPA 2 mmol/l. SI similar to Gd-DTPA can be obtained using one fourth concentration of Gd-BOPTA.