Intraindividual evaluation of gadopiclenol and gadobenate dimeglumine in liver MRI: impact on enhancement efficiency.

purposeTo perform an intraindividual comparison of hepatic enhancement on MRI after gadopiclenol versus gadobenate dimeglumine administration. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis single-center retrospective study included 71 patients who underwent gadopiclenol-enhanced MR imaging of the liver between September 2023 and December 2023. Patients with a comparison gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI of the liver within 18 months of the gadopiclenol-enhanced study were included. Gadopiclenol was injected at 0.05 mmol/kg (0.1 ml/kg) and gadobenate dimeglumine at 0.1 mmol/kg (0.2 ml/kg). The signal intensity (SI) of the liver parenchyma was independently recorded by two radiologists with subspecialization in abdominal imaging on pre-contrast, 3 min post-contrast, and 5 min post-contrast imaging. Liver enhancement (LE) was calculated as (post-contrast SI - pre-contrast SI) / pre-contrast SI x100. Liver enhancement per ml of Gd (LE/ml) was calculated as LE/ml of contrast used. LE and LE/ml were compared using the Student's t-test.

resultsPatients received an average of 8 ± 1.7 ml of gadopiclenol and 16 ± 3.5 ml of gadobenate dimeglumine. The LE at 3 min (Reader 1, 108 ± 40% vs. 130 ± 69%; Reader 2, 106 ± 94% vs. 104 ± 61%) and 5 min (Reader 1, 91 ± 30% vs. 100 ± 37%; Reader 2, 92 ± 37% vs. 97 ± 40%) was not significantly different (P > 0.3) after injection of gadopiclenol and gadobenate dimeglumine. LE/ml with gadopiclenol was significantly higher than LE/ml with gadobenate dimeglumine at 3 min (Reader 1, 14 ± 0.1% vs. 8 ± 3%; Reader 2, 14 ± 10% vs. 7 ± 3%) and 5 min (Reader 1, 12 ± 4% vs. 6 ± 2%; Reader 2, 12 ± 5% vs. 6 ± 2%) post-contrast administration (P < 0.001).

conclusionGadopiclenol demonstrated greater enhancement efficiency per unit volume than gadobenate dimeglumine, though overall enhancement at standard doses was similar.