What are hepatobiliary MRI contrast agents?
Hepatobiliary MRI contrast agents are in part taken up by functioning hepatocytes and excreted into the biliary system. Gadoxetate disodium (Eovist, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.) and gadobenate dimeglumine (Multihance, Bracco Diagnostics Inc.) are the two commonly used hepatobiliary MRI contrast agents used in clinical practice. Eovist has approximately 50% biliary excretion, while Multihance has 2% to 5% biliary excretion.
The most common indications for use of hepatobiliary MRI contrast agents in clinical practice are to differentiate focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) from hepatic adenoma, to characterize indeterminate hepatic lesions in patients with cirrhosis, and to assess for presence of bile leak.