Gadolinium Side Effects

MRI scans (and MRA scans) are known to produce very detailed images of the inner workings of the body.  They are used extensively in the medical field to detect and diagnose many health conditions that could not be found otherwise.  However, there are some cases where it is advantageous to use a gadolinium based contrast agent to enhance the quality of the scanned images or to better detect foreign growths inside the body.

Gadolinium is a rare earth lanthanide metal.  In its original form, it is a silvery white, malleable and ductile metal.  As a free ion, it is a highly toxic element to humans.  It must go through a process known as chelation before it can be utilized in practical applications.  Chelation is the process of taking a free ion and adding bonds with other organic compounds to prevent it from freely and uncontrollably reacting with other elements and compounds that could have detrimental effects.

The reason gadolinium has found its way into MRI scan applications is because of its strong paramagnetic properties.  A paramagnetic metal does not exhibit any magnetic effects in its original state.  When placed in an externally applied magnetic field, it will align its molecules parallel to the it, and in turn, create its own magnetic field.  They are easily detectable in a strong external magnetic field (such as that produced by an MRI machine), allowing the possibility for much more detailed scans.

Gadolinium based contrast dyes have been manufactured to be safe for the patient and they follow strict FDA regulations to avoid any health complications.  However, there are still gadolinium side effects that people must be completely aware of to avoid the risk of harm to themselves.