Gadolinium Deposition and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: A Radiologist’s Primer

Abstract

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have an excellent safety profile. However, over the last 2 decades, two specific concerns have surfaced. GBCAs are associated with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) and tissue retention of gadolinium. NSF is a rare fibrosing disorder with a poor prognosis, which is characterized by skin and subcutaneous thickening as well as systemic manifestations. The disease has been reported exclusively in patients with advanced renal disease, and it is associated with higher doses and specific types of GBCAs. The number of new cases of NSF has fallen over the past decade, presumably because of adherence by health care providers to regulatory guidelines, which continue to evolve. While gadolinium retention has been known to occur in the liver and bones, the relatively recent findings of deposition and retention in the brain have reignited the debate concerning the safety profile of GBCAs. Despite these concerns, there have been no proven health effects related to gadolinium deposition and retention other than NSF. The authors review the different categories of GBCAs available for commercial use, discuss NSF and gadolinium retention in the brain, and provide updates on the latest U.S. and European regulatory guidelines regarding use of these agents. Given the frequency with which GBCAs are used in clinical practice, it is imperative for all radiologists to learn the current guidelines to provide the safest and highest quality of patient care. ©RSNA, 2019