Phase III multicenter trial of high-dose gadoteridol in MR evaluation of brain metastases.
PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety profile of high-dose (0.3 mmol/kg cumulative dose) gadoteridol in patients with suspected central nervous system metastatic disease. METHODS: We studied 67 patients using an incremental-dose technique. Patient monitoring included a medical history, physical examination, vital signs, and extensive laboratory tests within 24 hours before and after the MR examination. Precontrast T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo studies were performed, followed by intravenous injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadoteridol. T1-weighted images were acquired immediately after and at 10 and 20 minutes after injection. At 30 minutes an additional 0.2 mmol/kg of gadoteridol was administered (0.3-mmol/kg cumulative dose), and T1-weighted images were acquired. Cases demonstrating abnormal MR findings were assessed for efficacy by unblinded and blinded reviewers and were analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS: Three adverse effects in two patients were considered to be related to gadoteridol administration. No adverse effects were serious; all self-resolved. Forty-nine cases showed abnormal MR findings and were included in the efficacy analysis. A significantly greater number of lesions was seen on the high-dose as opposed to the standard-dose images. Blinded and unblinded readers identified 5 and 8 patients, respectively, with solitary lesions on standard-dose examination and multiple lesions on high-dose examination. Two patients who had normal standard-dose findings had lesions identified on high-dose studies. Quantitative analysis of 133 lesions in 45 patients demonstrated significant increases in lesion signal intensity on high-dose studies when compared with standard-dose studies. CONCLUSION: Gadoteridol can be safely administered up to a cumulative dose of 0.3 mmol/kg. High-dose contrast studies provide improved lesion detectability and additional diagnostic information over studies performed in the same patients with a 0.1-mmol/kg dose and aid in patient diagnosis and treatment. High-dose gadoteridol study may facilitate the care of patients with suspected central nervous system metastasis.