• Federica Pediconi, Francesco Fraioli, Carlo Catalano, Alessandro Napoli, Massimiliano Danti, Marco Francone, Fiammetta Venditti, Piergiorgio Nardis, and Roberto Passariello.
• II Cattedra di Radiologia, Univrersità degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. federica.pediconi@uniromal.it
• Radiol Med. 2003 Jul 1; 106 (1-2): 87-93.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare contrast enhanced MR angiography (MRA) with gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) to MRA with gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA), a high relaxivity paramagnetic contrast agent.Materials And MethodsTwelve patients referred for carotid artery stenosis were examined with MR angiography using a fast spoiled gradient echo sequence. Gd-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA enhanced MR angiography were performed within 48-72 hours using a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg for Gd-BOPTA and 0.2 mmol/kg for Gd-DTPA, at a flow rate of 2 ml/s. Images were evaluated by two blinded radiologists. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed comparing the sets of images from the two examinations.ResultsQualitative evaluation demonstrated superior arterial contrast enhancement and vessel conspicuity with Gd-BOPTA compared with Gd-DTPA. Quantita-tive evaluation showed an improvement in both signal intensity and contrast to noise ratio with Gd-BOPTA.ConclusionThe greater relaxivity of Gd-BOPTA, at lower doses, compared with Gd-DTPA, provides higher intravascular signal and signal to noise ratio. Gd-BOPTA appears to be an optimal contrast agent for contrast enhanced MRA.

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