Comparison of aerosolized gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine for magnetic resonance ventilation imaging of the lung

The purpose of this study was to compare aerosolized gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine in regard to homogeneity of aerosol distribution and relative pulmonary signal intensity (SI) changes after a 10-min mechanical ventilation period. Twenty experimental procedures were performed in 10 intubated domestic pigs that were mechanically aerosolized with the nebulized contrast medium. Images were obtained by using a respiratory-gated T(1)-weighted TSE sequence. Pulmonary SI increase for the right and left lung was 26% +/- 25% and 25% +/- 12%, respectively, for gadopentetate dimeglumine, and 45% +/- 12% and 43% +/- 10%, respectively, for gadoteridol. Aerosol distribution was rated homogeneous in all cases by two readers. It is concluded that both contrast agents in aerosolized form are capable of depicting pulmonary ventilation in healthy animals with lung capacities comparable to those of humans. SI differences between gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine are explained by their considerable difference in viscosity.