Effects of gadoxetic acid on image quality of arterial multiphase magnetic resonance imaging of liver: comparison study with gadoteric acid-enhanced MRI

Abstract

Purpose To compare the effects of gadoxetic acid and gadoteric acid on the image quality of single-breath-hold, triple (first, second, and third) arterial hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Two hundred and eleven patients were divided into two groups according to the contrast materials used (gadoxetic acid, 108 patients and gadoteric acid, 103 patients). All 3.0-T MR examinations included triple arterial phase acquisition using the 4D enhanced T1-weighted high-resolution isotropic volume examination (eTHRIVE) keyhole technique. The image qualities of the pre-contrast and triple arterial phases were assessed in terms of image artifacts, sharpness of the intrahepatic vessel and liver edge, and overall image quality with a 5-point scale for qualitative analysis. Results The image quality of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI in the triple arterial phases was significantly degraded compared with that of gadoteric acid-enhanced liver MRI, although better image scores were observed in the pre-contrast images in the gadoxetic acid group (P < 0.001). The overall image quality gradually improved from the first to the third arterial phases in both groups (P < 0.003). Conclusions Intravenous gadoxetic acid could have a detrimental effect on image quality of triple arterial phase MRI with the 4D eTHRIVE Keyhole technique. The third arterial phase images had the best image qualities; thus, they could be used as key scans.