Imaging Technology News - October 2008 - (Page 34)

> > special report Agents Compete on Preference and Performance Drs. debate reader preference and diagnostic efficacy. by Cristen C. Bolan O ver the past year, headlines across industry and consumer media have highlighted FDA warnings on the dangers of gadolinium-based contrast agents. To date, it has become common knowledge and a FDA black box warning that gadolinium-based agents run the risk of causing Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis or Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NSF/NFD). While the dust has yet not settled, the industry has turned its attention to a recent study comparing gadolinium-based contrast agents, now stirring up debate over the significance of reader preference as it relates to diagnostic efficacy. Measuring reader preference The ENHANCE study results show that the use of a gadobenate dimeglumine agent, MultiHance, over another commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, OMNISCAN, may enhance clinicians’ ability to visualize lesions of the brain. Both of these agents are used for diagnosing several central nervous system disorders – conditions that have in common either a breakdown of the blood brain barrier or some sort of neovascularity or related vessels. Indications would include brain tumors – primary or metastatic – or infections. Results of the ENHANCE Study, which are published online in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, suggest that the higher relaxivity of the gadobenate dimeglumine agent, MultiHance by Bracco Diagnostics Inc., may be linked to greater signal intensity, better contrast enhancement and better lesion conspicuity in MRI of the brain. The study’s aim was to compare the two agents, MultiHance and Omniscan, using a carefully controlled multicenter, double-blind, randomized, intraindividual, crossover study design in which each of the 113 patients received 0.1 mmol/kg doses of both agents in two identical MR imaging examinations. The two contrast injections were performed in a blinded and fully randomized manner with an interval of two to fourteen days between administrations, to avoid any carry over effects. Half of the patients received MultiHance for their first exam and the other half received Omniscan first. Imaging parameters and post-dose acquisition times were kept identical for the two exams in each patient. Images were evaluated by three independent and experienced neuroradiologists, who were unaffiliated with the enrollment centers and fully blinded to any clinical information about the patients and the agents used in the two exams. Image assessments were made in terms of diagnostic information (lesion border delineation, definition of disease extent, visualization of lesion internal morphology, lesion contrast enhancement) and quantitative parameters (percent of enhancement and CNR). After the researchers compared the agents, they concluded (p special report > 34 > > Contrast Agents Target Neurological Diseases and Disorders A recent study comparing gadolinium-based contrast agents redirects the focus from NSF risk to questions raised over the significance of radiology-reader preference and a connection to diagnostic superiority. Plus, pretargeting agents show potential for early and predictable treatments for cancer. Agents Compete on Preference and Performance Pretargeting Hones in on Cancer 34 35 http://new.reillycomm.com/imaging/special-report-b.php

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Imaging Technology News - October 2008

Imaging Technology News - October 2008 Contents RSNA Low-Field MRI Systems Contrast Media Injectors AM-LCDs Special Report - Agents Target Neurological Diseases and Disorders IT Laser Imagers Monitors Meet Radiology Suite Needs MR Guides Ultrasound in Outpatient Treatments Replacing a Legacy PACS PACS SAs: Titles and Salaries

Imaging Technology News - October 2008

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