Optimal scan timing for Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced liver dynamic MR imaging

Gadoxetate Sodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA, EOB) is a new contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that allows both vascular and hepatobiliary imaging in one examination. Often in the arterial phase, however, appropriate scan timing is missed and contrast enhancement is not enough. In addition, to shorten the complete examination, some studies have been conducted to examine scan timing at the hepatobiliary phase earlier than 20 min after injection. We studied the optimal scan timing both at the arterial and the hepatobiliary phase. It was appropriate that multiphase acquisition of MR imaging at the arterial phase should be aimed around 25 sec after injection. Moreover, the liver-spleen contrast ratio (CL-S) at the hepatobiliary phase was highest at 60 min after injection, and the acquisition of an image earlier than 20 minutes lowered the CL-S. In the future, it is desirable to establish how to use Gd-EOB-DTPA (EOB) for hepatic MR imaging after taking the extent of liver damage into consideration. (author)