title: Gadolinium contrast agent selection and optimal use for body MR imaging.
abstract: Proper selection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) for body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cases requires understanding the indication for the MRI exam, the key features of the different GBCAs, and the effect that the GBCA has on the selected imaging protocol. The different categories of GBCAs require timing optimization on postcontrast sequences and adjusting imaging parameters to obtain the highest T1 contrast. Gadoxetate disodium has many advantages when evaluating liver lesions, although there are caveats and limitations that need to be understood. Gadobenate dimeglumine, a high-relaxivity GBCA, can be used for indications when stronger T1 relaxivity is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Electronic address: flavius.guglielmo@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Flavius F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Guglielmo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Donald G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, Unit 1473, FCT15.5013, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium
keywords: Blood pool agents; Extracellular space agents; Gadolinium chelate structure and stability; Gadolinium-based contrast agents; Hepatocyte-specific contrast agents; Postgadolinium pulse sequences