Recent innovations in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging hardware, the emergence of novel imaging acquisition sequences and protocols (eg, parallel imaging and compressed sensing), and deep machine learning have greatly evolved the field of MR imaging. In conjunction with these advances, a truly unique new macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) has recently been approved by the FDA. Vueway (gadopiclenol) is an ultra-high relaxivity GBCA that is approved for most imaging applications including central nervous system (CNS) (brain, spine, and associated tissues) and body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system) in adults and children ≥ 2 years. Vueway (gadopiclenol) provides a r1 relaxivity of 12.8 at 1.5 T and 11.6 at 3T and possesses extremely high kinetic stability with a dissociation half-life of 20±3 days. Equally unique is that Vueway (gadopiclenol) is dosed at 0.05 mmol/kg, exposing patients to half the dose of gadolinium compared with all other GBCAs. This new agent holds the promise of improving the visualization of lesions that are difficult to image and other pathologic abnormalities while enhancing patient safety.

The library of suggested protocols specific to General Electric (GE), Siemens, and Philips MR systems were developed based on expert consensus by radiologists and radiologic technologists with extensive experience in specific types of MR imaging and familiarity with different MR vendors’ scanning systems. These new MR protocols are designed to be used with Vueway (gadolpiclenol) and will optimize image quality, maximize diagnostic performance, and minimize gadolinium exposure—thereby enhancing patient safety.

The goals of this series of MR imaging protocols are to:

• Offer state-of-the-art protocols for newer equipment and low-dose, ultra-high relaxivity contrast agents to enable clinicians to use MR imaging technologies to their fullest capabilities
• Provide an important educational service to radiologists and radiologic technologists by presenting optimized approaches for the acquisition of highly diagnostic images of the central nervous system (CNS), body including breast, and vasculature using newer-generation MR scanners, sequences, and acquisition parameters
• Demonstrate how protocols should be modified to take into account the unique properties of the new GBCA Vueway (gadopiclenol)

Please review the 2.25-hours continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity Advanced MRI Protocols: Optimizing Visualization, 1st Edition that describes the latest developments in contrast media as they are used for CNS, MR angiography, and body MR imaging.

Thomas M. Grist, MD, FACR
John Juhl Professor of Radiology, Medical Physics, and Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison, Wisconsin