Does Gadopentetate Dimeglumine Induce Gadolinium Accumulation in the Brains of Children?

Abstract

Aim: To determine T1-weighted (T1W) signal intensity (SI) differences in the dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) following contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with multiple gadopentetate dimeglumine administrations in a group of pediatric patients. Methods and materials: This retrospective study included children with at least two enhanced brain MRIs. All patients received gadopentetate dimeglumine intravenously (0.1 mmol/kg). SI measurements were done by drawing five region of interests (ROI) on dentate nuclei (DN) and globus pallidi (GP) bilaterally and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) in unenhanced T1W images. Student t-test was used for comparison of SI. Pearson correlation was calculated for the correlation between the SI and the number of gadolinium administrations. Results: A total of 31 children (age range: 3-17 years; mean 10.6±4.3 years) were included. There was no significant difference between the first and the third MRI scans by means of the T1 SI ratios: right and left DN/CSF, right and left GP/CSF (P =0.543, P =0.599, P =0.803, P =0.730, respectively). 18 patients received more than two gadopentetate dimeglumine, the mean number of administrations was 5±3. A significant difference was detected between first and last MRI scans; right and left DN/CSF, right and left GP/CSF (P=0.0004, P=0.0008, P=0.0001, P=0.014 respectively). Correlation between the number of gadopentetate dimeglumine administrations and the SI for right and left DN/CSF, right and left GP/CSF (r=0.13, r=0.13, r=0.09 and r=0.12, respectively) was poor. Conclusion: There was no significant T1 SI increase for children with at least two gadopentetate dimeglumine administrations but after multiple administrations, significant T1 SI increase was found in this series.