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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Dendrimer-based Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: December 4, 2016
Gadolinium-based contrast agents in children
Michael N Rozenfeld1, Daniel J Podberesky2
1Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, 550 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA. mikerozenfeld@email.arizona.edu.
Abstract:
Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are widely used in medical imaging, with greater than 300 million doses administered since their introduction. The risk of adverse reactions is very low, and GBCAs were thought to be very safe until the discovery of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Since that time, gadolinium has been found to deposit throughout the body, including the brain, where it is visible on non-contrast T1-weighted MR images in people with normal renal function. The clinical effects of this deposition remain unknown and may not exist. In this review the authors provide a comprehensive update on GBCAs and their potential risks, within a historical context and through the lens of a pediatric radiologist.
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