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Increasing signal intensity within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1W magnetic resonance images in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: correlation with cumulative dose of a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent, gadobutrol

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate correlation between cumulative dose of gadobutrol and signal intensity (SI) within dentate nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1-weighted images in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods

Dentate nucleus-to-pons and globus pallidus-to-thalamus SI ratios, and renal and liver functions, were evaluated after multiple intravenous administrations of 0.1 mmol/kg gadobutrol at 27, 96–98, and 168 weeks. We compared SI ratios based on the number of administrations, total amount of gadobutrol administered, and time between injections.

Results

Globus pallidus-to-thalamus (p = 0.025) and dentate nucleus-to-pons (p < 0.001) SI ratios increased after multiple gadobutrol administrations, correlated with the number of administrations (ρ = 0.263, p = 0.046, respectively) and depended on the length of administration (p = 0.017, p = 0.037, respectively). Patients receiving gadobutrol at 27 weeks showed the greatest increase in both SI ratios (p = 0.006; p = 0.014, respectively, versus 96–98 weeks). GGT increased at the end of the study (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

In patients with RRMS, SI within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus increased on unenhanced T1-weighted images after multiple gadobutrol injections. Administration of the same total amount of gadobutrol over a shorter period caused greater SI increase.

Key points

• Gadolinium deposition may occur within the human brain after multiple gadolinium contrast administrations

• Increasing T1W signal intensity occurs within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus

• Increasing signal intensity may be a consequence of multiple administrations of gadobutrol

• Administration of gadobutrol over a shorter period causes greater signal intensity increase

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Abbreviations

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

Gd:

Gadolinium

SI:

Signal intensity

RRMS:

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

SPMS:

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Prof. Dr. Dragan Stojanov The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent were not required because the retrospective nature of our clinically acquired data. At the time of the examination, however, all patients had given consent to use their clinical and imaging data for research. Study subjects or cohorts have not been previously reported. Methodology: prospective / retrospective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia, Bul. Dr. Z. Djindjica 82

    Dragan A. Stojanov, Slobodan Vojinovic, Daniela Benedeto-Stojanov & Srdjan Ljubisavljevic

  2. Center for Radiology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia, Bul. Dr. Z. Djindjica 48

    Dragan A. Stojanov & Aleksandra Aracki-Trenkic

  3. Clinic for Neurology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia, Bul. Dr. Z. Djindjica 48

    Slobodan Vojinovic & Srdjan Ljubisavljevic

Authors
  1. Dragan A. Stojanov
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  2. Aleksandra Aracki-Trenkic
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  3. Slobodan Vojinovic
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  4. Daniela Benedeto-Stojanov
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  5. Srdjan Ljubisavljevic
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Correspondence to Dragan A. Stojanov.

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Stojanov, D.A., Aracki-Trenkic, A., Vojinovic, S. et al. Increasing signal intensity within the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1W magnetic resonance images in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: correlation with cumulative dose of a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent, gadobutrol. Eur Radiol 26, 807–815 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3879-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3879-9

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