Radiology, Vol 205, 361-366, Copyright © 1997 by Radiological Society of North America
Gd-EOB-DTPA and Yb-EOB-DTPA: two prototypic contrast media for CT detection of liver lesions in dogs
SA Schmitz, S Wagner, G Schuhmann-Giampieri, W Krause, M Bollow and KJ Wolf
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
PURPOSE: To characterize computed tomographic (CT) attenuation of iodine,
gadolinium, and ytterbium in vitro and to study CT liver enhancement after
administration of two prototypic hepatocyte-directed contrast media in
dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples with increasing concentrations of
iodine, gadolinium, and ytterbium were measured for CT attenuation in a
water phantom at tube voltages of 80, 120, and 137 kV. Three groups of five
adult beagle dogs each received a 0.5 mmol/kg dose of either gadoxetic acid
disodium (gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
[EOB-DTPA]) or Yb-EOB-DTPA as intravenous infusions or Yb-EOB-DTPA as an
intravenous bolus injection. RESULTS: At 120 kV, in vitro CT attenuation of
gadolinium and ytterbium exceeded that of iodine by 41% and 45%,
respectively, when measured at equal mass concentrations (in milligrams per
milliliter of saline). In dogs, CT liver enhancement values above the
precontrast liver attenuation were 32.6 HU +/- 2.3, 31.4 HU +/- 1.1, and
33.4 HU +/- 5.2 after 0.5 mmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA or Yb-EOB-DTPA infusion or
Yb-EOB-DTPA bolus, respectively. The values were not significantly
different (P > .05) CONCLUSION: Both Gd-EOB-DTPA and Yb-EOB-DTPA provide
excellent CT liver enhancement in dogs. CT liver enhancement is not
significantly altered by either the absorbing element (gadolinium vs
ytterbium) or the mode of application (infusion vs bolus).
