Hepatic hemangiomas: difference in enhancement pattern on 3T MR imaging with gadobenate dimeglumine versus gadoxetate disodium.

PURPOSE: To compare intraindividual differences in enhancement pattern of hepatic hemangiomas between gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) and gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced 3T MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved retrospective study with waiver for informed consent granted. From 10/07 to 5/09, 10 patients (2 males, 8 females; mean age, 57.3 years) with 15 hepatic hemangiomas (mean diameter, 4.4 ± 5.6 cm) underwent both Gd-BOPTA- and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MR imaging (mean interval, 266 days; range, 38-462 days). Diagnosis of hemangioma was based on strict imaging criteria. MR imaging was obtained during three arterial, portal venous, and up to four delayed phases. During each phase, hemangioma-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured for each lesion on both examinations. Statistical analysis was performed using paired Student's t-test.

RESULTS: Hemangioma-to-liver CNR peaked during the portal venous phase (Gd-BOPTA: 48.9 ± 65.8, Gd-EOB-DTPA: 0.7 ± 3.8). During all imaging phases except the first arterial phase, hemangioma-to-liver CNR was significantly lower on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced compared to Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MR images (p<0.05). Notably, Gd-EOB-DTPA yielded negative hemangioma-to-liver CNR (-2.5 ± 2.4) compared to Gd-BOPTA (40.7 ± 56.4) during the first delayed phase (7-8 min after contrast administration), remaining negative for the rest of the delayed phases (up to 26 min after contrast administration).

CONCLUSION: The enhancement patterns of hepatic hemangiomas differs significantly between Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MR imaging. The smaller dose, shorter plasma half-life, and increased hepatobiliary uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA leads to a negative CNR of hemangioma-to-liver on delayed phases and could create an imaging pitfall with this agent.