Comparison of Dynamic Phase Enhancement of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Gadoxetate Disodium vs Gadobenate Dimeglumine

摘要

Gadoxetate isodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA; Eovist/Primovist; Bayer) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in 2008 and has emerged as a valuable hepatobiliary phase magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent. The presence or absence of contrast enhancement in the hepatobiliary phase can be very useful in differentiating previously indeterminate hepatic lesions, such as focal nodular hyperplasia, well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), adenomas, atypical hemangiomas, and metastases. Approximately 50% of Gd-EOB-DTPA undergoes hepatobiliary excretion and 50% is excreted by the kidneys. After being taken up by hepatocytes via the organic anion transport protein, Gd-EOB-DTPA redistributes to the extracellular space and undergoes delayed excretion into bile ducts or sinusoids. Extracellular space redistribution and gradual hepatobiliary phase excretion allow for prolonged dynamic imaging and a progressive increase in enhancement of hepatocytes and hepatocyte-containing lesions.