{
  "abstract": "PURPOSE: To evaluate whether delayed contrast-enhanced 3D MRI using a non-ionic gadolinium-based contrast agent enables reliable visualization of the Eustachian tube cartilage (ETC) and to compare the signal intensity characteristics between ionic and non-ionic contrast agents. METHODS: Thirty-five participants underwent 3T fat-suppressed 3D-Motion-Sensitized Driven-Equilibrium (MSDE) T1-weighted MRI 4 hr after receiving either gadobutrol (non-ionic, n = 18) or gadoterate meglumine (ionic, n = 17). The visualization of the ETC was qualitatively evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale by 2 neuroradiologists. Signal intensity ratios relative to the medulla were measured for the ETC, nasal turbinate mucosa, and lateral pterygoid muscles. Semi-automated 3D segmentation of the ETC was performed in representative cases. RESULTS: The inter-observer agreement for the qualitative scores was substantial (κ = 0.786-0.808). Qualitative ETC visual scores were significantly higher in the gadobutrol group than in the gadoterate meglumine group (median, 5.0 vs. 4.0; P < 0.001). The ETC-to-medulla signal intensity ratios were significantly higher with gadobutrol bilaterally (right: 1.52 ± 0.20 vs. 1.21 ± 0.19, P < 0.0001; left: 1.54 ± 0.26 vs. 1.24 ± 0.22, P = 0.00088). No significant differences were observed in control soft tissues. Furthermore, semi-automated 3D segmentation of the ETC was successfully achieved in representative cases using high-resolution MR datasets with a non-ionic contrast agent. CONCLUSION: Delayed contrast-enhanced 3D-MRI with a non-ionic contrast agent allows clear, high-contrast visualization and 3D reconstruction of the ETC, outperforming the ionic agents.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Shinji Naganawa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rintaro Ito"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mariko Kawamura"
    },
    {
      "name": "Toshiaki Taoka"
    },
    {
      "name": "Masumi Kobayashi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Tadao Yoshida"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dqrsnkg4s7xxa.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.2463/mrms.tn.2026-0208",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mrms/25/4/25_tn.2026-0208/_article",
  "id": "dqrsnkg4s7xxa",
  "issns": [
    "1880-2206",
    "1347-3182"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mrms/25/4/25_tn.2026-0208/_article",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "jstage-journal",
      "medicine/imaging"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2733|Ear Surgery and Otitis Media"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222341165",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mrms/25/4/25_tn.2026-0208/_pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dqrsnkg4s7xxa.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:42Z",
      "native_id": "10.2463/mrms.tn.2026-0208",
      "source": "jstage",
      "url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/mrms/25/4/25_tn.2026-0208/_article"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "jstage-journal:medicine/imaging",
      "subfield": "imaging"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Visualization of the Eustachian Tube Cartilage on Delayed Contrast-enhanced 3D-MR Imaging: A Preliminary Comparison between Ionic and Non-ionic Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents",
  "title_text": "Visualization of the Eustachian Tube Cartilage on Delayed Contrast-enhanced 3D-MR Imaging: A Preliminary Comparison between Ionic and Non-ionic Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dqrsnkg4s7xxa",
  "venue": "Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences",
  "versions": []
}