Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the upper abdomen: enhancement properties of gadobutrol, gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine, and gadolinium-DTPA-cascade-polymer.

The enhancement properties of gadobutrol (40 and 80 mumol/kg body weight, 550 daltons), gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine (20 mumol/kg body weight, 53,000 daltons) and gadolinium-DTPA-cascade-polymer (20 mumol/kg body weight, < 30,000 Daltons) were investigated in abdominal MR imaging using a pig model (n = 24). Signal intensities before and after contrast media application were assessed using a fast single slice FLASH sequence. Measurements were made every 4 s within the first 116 s, every minute between 4 and 10 min and after 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, and 120 min after contrast media injection. Injection of gadobutrol resulted in typical signal intensity curves characterizing it as an extracellular agent similar to gadopentetate dimeglumine. Significant enhancement was found in all tissues except the trunk muscles when the lower dose was administered. Gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine injection resulted also in significant enhancement of the liver, the pancreas, and the renal cortex, but not of the trunk muscle, reflecting its blood pool properties known also from other macromolecular contrast agents. The signal intensity curves obtained after gadolinium-DTPA-cascade-polymer injection were similar to those obtained after polylysine injection, stressing the blood pool character of this new type of blood pool agent.