Gadobenate Dimeglumine as an Intrabiliary Contrast Agent: Comparison with Mangafodipir Trisodium with Respect to Non-dilated Biliary Tree Depiction

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of Mangafodipir trisodium (Mn-DPDP)-enhanced MR cholangiogrphy (MRC) and Gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced MRC in visualizing a non-dilated biliary system. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-eight healthy liver donor candidates underwent contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRC. Mn-DPDP and Gd-BOPTA was used in 36 and 52 patients, respectively. Two radiologists reviewed the MR images and rated the visualization of the common duct, the right and left hepatic ducts, and the second-order branches using a 4-point scale. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the common duct to the liver in the two groups was also compared. RESULTS Mn-DPDP MRC and Gd-BOPTA MRC both showed similar visualization grades in the common duct (p=.380, Mann-Whitney U test). In the case of the proximal bile ducts, the median visualization grade was significantly higher with Gd-BOPTA MRC than with Mn-DPDP MRC (right hepatic duct: p=0.016, left hepatic duct: p=0.014, right secondary order branches: p=0.006, left secondary order branches, p=0.003). The common duct-to-liver CNR of the Gd-BOPTA MRC group was significantly higher (38.90+/-24.50) than that of the Mn-DPDP MRC group (24.14+/-17.98) (p=.003, Student's t test). CONCLUSION Gd-BOPTA, as a biliary contrast agent, is a potential substitute for Mn-DPDP.