Gadolinium-based contrast in breast MRI: What ob/gyns need to know

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields to provide detailed anatomic images that reflect distribution and magnetic properties of tissues (specifically of hydrogen nuclei in water and fat) to aid in diagnosis of many pathologic conditions. Gadolinium-based intravenous contrast agents (GBCA) provide additional information based on signal intensity changes after GBCA administration. GBCA are used in approximately 45% of MRI exams in the United States. In the 30 years since the first GBCA was introduced into clinical practice, almost a half billion enhanced MRI studies have been performed worldwide. In the field of gynecology, MRI is widely used to enhance detection of early breast cancers in women at elevated risk, or to better delineate complex pelvic anatomy in the setting of prior pelvic surgery, severe endometriosis, distorting fibroids, cervical, uterine cancer or ovarian cancer.

A recent concern with use of GBCA surfaced in 2014, when the link between permanent high T1 signal in the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus of the brain and repeated prior GBCA exposure was identified.¹ Post-mortem analysis of these deep brain structures confirmed that gadolinium deposition in the brain of patients who had GBCA-enhanced MRI of any part of the body. Specifically, higher signal intensities were seen in patients who had undergone at least six contrast-enhanced MRI examinations compared to patients who had undergone only non-contrast MRI. Case reports in children noted the same pattern of gadolinium deposition as that seen in adult patients following GBCA.² Industry-sponsored studies in rats serially exposed to GBCA found progressively higher signal intensity on imaging, which correlated with post-mortem gadolinium concentrations in the brain.³ Notably, at the time of this writing, no human or animal data have shown any association between GBCA exposure and neurologic toxicity or neurological symptoms related to gadolinium deposition in the dentate nucleus of globus pallidus.⁴ Ob/gyns need to be aware of the current data about gadolinium-based contrast and the potential implications of its use when they order MRI for their patients.

Consensus guidelines on GBCA
In response to the reports of gadolinium deposition in the brain of GBCA-exposed individuals, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a new class warning and other safety measures for all GBCA for MRI in December 2017. Updates to GBCA labeling in May 2018 stated that GBCA was safe and should be used when medically necessary, and directed MRI centers to make educational information available to every outpatient the first time they receive GBCA.⁵ The FDA Patient Medication Guide includes risk of gadolinium retention associated with the two types of GBCA (linear and macrocyclic) and indicates that linear GBCA appears to result in higher retention for longer periods of time than macrocyclic GBCA. Providers are encouraged to consider patient characteristics that may result in increased risk of gadolinium retention, and to minimize closely spaced or multiple GBCA MRI. 

Gulani and colleagues, on behalf of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) summarized the evidence and offered guidelines to clinicians in Lancet Neurology.^4,6 They highlighted incomplete understanding of the clinical implications and mechanisms that drive gadolinium deposition, and discordant data comparing different types of gadolinium. The authors advised health care professionals to use caution when administering GBCA and to carefully document when and why a specific GBCA is given to a patient. They did not endorse macrocyclic over linear GBCA, and suggested that patient and clinical factors in addition to pharmacokinetics of the available agents should guide selection of the best GBCA. The American College of Radiology independently endorsed the same recommendation.⁷ Finally, the ISMRM Summary urged ongoing research to elucidate clinical implications of gadolinium deposition. The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency has proposed a ban on all linear agents. Radiologists from the National Institutes of Health have recommended that use of macrocyclic rather than linear agents be considered, if possible.⁸

Implications for MRI utilization in gynecology
MRI imaging of the pelvis is indicated to further characterize masses seen on computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound. An MRI without contrast offers sensitivity comparable to CT with contrast and superior specificity in diagnosis of adnexal malignancy following an indeterminate ultrasound.⁹ MRI provides better assessment of soft tissue structures and improved localization of pelvic masses, which is useful to discriminate between ovarian and uterine pathology. T2-weighted imaging is helpful in determining whether the lesion is a unilocular cyst, mixed solid and cystic, or homogeneously solid. T1-weighted imaging without and with fat saturation allows for detection of adnexal lesions containing macroscopic fat. Fat-saturated T1-weighted imaging is useful for identifying ovarian endometriomas, extraovarian endometriosis, and other lesions with blood degradation products, such as hemorrhagic cysts.^10-12 Adding contrast may allow better discrimination between benign and malignant pathology due to the kinetics of contrast enhancement and washout, although its use may vary by institutional MRI protocol. 

The incremental additional clinical information that is gained with use of GBCA in MRI evaluation of variant pelvic anatomy and suspected benign pathology is small. Adding GBCA has been shown to improve evaluation of myometrial invasion from endometrial carcinoma¹³ and identification of the correct primary tumor when there are multiple sites of biopsy-proven uterine adenocarcinoma.¹⁴ Contrast may also be useful in identifying vulvar cancers and occult inguinal metastases¹⁵ and it has shown to be useful in identifying neoplastic nodules within complex adnexal lesions and distinguishing endometriosis from pelvic inflammatory disease.^16,17

Breast cancer screening in high-risk women
Intensive breast cancer surveillance is advised for women at the highest risk of breast cancer. Women with inherited genetic susceptibility due to BRCA and other less well-known germline mutations (CHEK2, ATM, PALB2), family history, prior chest radiation (cumulative dose > 10 Gy before age 30), or calculated lifetime risk of breast cancer exceeding 20% or more are advised to start breast cancer screening between ages 25 and 30.^18,19 While mammography remains the gold standard for breast cancer screening in the general population, it has been less successful in detection of early, curable cancers in higher-than-average-risk patients. Prospective studies of annual mammography in BRCA-positive women showed an interval cancer rate of 35% to 50% and the majority of invasive cancers were > 1 cm and 20% to 56% of them had lymph node involvement.²⁰ Some factors cited to explain the poorer detection of BRCA-associated breast cancer may relate to the confounding effect of breast density, which is more common in younger women. Mammography relies upon abnormal tissue density, tissue distortion, and calcifications to identify breast cancers. BRCA1-associated breast cancers tend to be less mammographically detectable than sporadic breast cancers, which has been attributed to their distinctive histologic growth patterns, such as pushing borders, the relative absence of associated ductal carcinoma in situ, and high cellularity.²¹

In observational studies, adding contrast-enhanced MRI to annual mammography in BRCA mutation carriers significantly improved detection of early, treatable breast cancers with a combined sensitivity of 94% compared to 39% with mammography alone.^18,22,23 MRI provides a functional assessment of breast tissue. Contrast- enhanced MRI can detect microvascular changes and peritumoral inflammation as the contrast accumulates rapidly, and is then washed out rapidly, in more vascular tumors compared to benign breast tissue. Consequently, annual contrast-based MRI has been incorporated into breast cancer surveillance guidelines for women at the highest risk of breast cancer.²⁴

There has been no change to the recommendation of annual breast MRI by the American College of Radiology nor the European Congress in Radiology due to the increased benefit of early detection of cancer in these high-risk patients.^19,25 In view of the concerns raised over GBCA, macrocyclic agents are advised, and alternatives to conventional MRI imaging are being investigated. These include investigations of lower-dose gadolinium scans²⁶ or alternative MRI contrast agents such as Feraheme (ferumoxytol an ultrasmall, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle), which is currently used for vascular imaging.²⁷

Some high-volume centers enriched with populations of BRCA mutation carriers have amended the recommended surveillance for women at high risk of breast cancer. Breast ultrasound may be alternated with annual MRI, in addition to annual mammography. Ongoing study of novel strategies to improve the mammogram, such as use of iodinated contrast and breast tomosynthesis, which creates a 3-D image of the breast by stacking multiple 2D mammographic renderings, are underway in women with BRCA mutations. Such advances may allow reduction in cumulative exposure to GBCA in these high-risk women.²¹

Weighing risks and benefits in women at high risk
While it’s discomforting to consider progressive accumulation of gadolinium in the body over time, the clinical consequences and level of risk associated with GBCA are, as yet, unknown. On the contrary, the consequences of missing an aggressive breast cancer are all too well known. In the absence of an effective non-gadolinium alternative to GBCA, until we have more definitive data on the true risk of gadolinium deposition, we forego surveillance of women at high risk of breast cancer with contrast-enhanced MRI at our peril. Best practice suggests that providers consider the necessity of contrast based upon clinical circumstances, and that macrocyclic rather than linear agents be used when necessary.¹⁰ Judicious use of gadolinium, coupled with vigilance in identifying women who might be pregnant, can minimize inadvertent fetal exposure to gadolinium, which is estimated to occur in 1 in 860 pregnancies in the United States.²⁸

Disclosures:

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.

References:

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• Roberts DR, Holden KR. Progressive in of T1 signal intensity in the dentate and nucleus and globus pallidus on unenhanced T1-weighted MR images in the pediatric brain exposed to multiple doses of gadolinium contrast. Brain Devel. 2016;38:331-336. 

• Robert P, Lehericy S, Grand S, et al. T1 weighted images hypersignal in the deep cerebellar nuclei after repeated administrations of gadolinium-based contrast agents in healthy rats: difference between linear and macrocyclic agents. Invest Radiol. 2015;50:473-480. 

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• BIRI Registry for Development and Validation of Novel MR Imaging Techniques, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center PI Dr Debaio Li (correspondence)

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