Gd-EOB-DTPA enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats: comparison with Tc-99m-IDA uptake.

The enhancement pattern of chemically induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) after intravenous administration of the hepatobiliary magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent gadolinium-EOB-DTPA (ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) was compared with the uptake pattern of technetium-99m-labeled iminodiacetic acid (IDA), a hepatobiliary radioactive tracer. The hepatocyte uptake of both the contrast agent and the scintigraphic agent has been shown to be driven by the organic anion transporter. The tumors enhanced less than the liver after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration, whereas the Tc-99m-IDA uptake of differentiated HCCs exceeded that of the liver at 30 minutes and 3 hours after administration. The enhancement pattern of a differentiated HCC with Gd-EOB-DTPA does not mirror that seen with Tc-99m-IDA.