gadoteridol at a glance
Medicine class
Non-ionic, macrocyclic gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent
Main role
Improves MRI visibility of selected brain, spine and body abnormalities
Administration
Injected into a vein by trained healthcare staff during an MRI appointment
Kidney clearance
Removed mainly through the kidneys, making renal assessment important
What is gadoteridol used for?
Gadoteridol is licensed for diagnostic use when essential information cannot be obtained from unenhanced MRI.
Contrast enhancement of the brain, spine and surrounding tissues, particularly lesions involving abnormal blood vessels or disruption of the blood–brain barrier.
Whole-body MRI in adults, including the head, neck, liver, breast, musculoskeletal system and soft tissues.
Brain and spine MRI in children from term birth. Whole-body use is not recommended below 18 years for the selected syringe product.
How does gadoteridol work?
Gadoteridol contains gadolinium held within a stable macrocyclic structure. In an MRI magnetic field, it shortens the T1 relaxation time of nearby water molecules so areas containing contrast appear brighter on suitable images. This can help abnormalities stand out from surrounding tissue.
How to take gadoteridol
Gadoteridol is not taken at home. A radiographer or other trained professional injects it through a cannula into a vein during the MRI procedure.
Follow the MRI department’s preparation instructions. Food restrictions are not routinely required solely because of gadoteridol unless advised otherwise.
Tell staff about kidney disease, dialysis, previous contrast reactions, allergies, pregnancy or possible pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Report pain, burning or swelling around the cannula immediately because contrast may have leaked outside the vein.
gadoteridol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Feeling sick
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis, including breathing or swallowing difficulty, throat tightness, wheezing, facial or throat swelling, low blood pressure, collapse or cardiac arrest
- Convulsion or loss of consciousness
- Severe or persistent injection-site pain, redness or swelling suggesting extravasation injury
- Acute kidney failure in someone with pre-existing severe renal impairment
- Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a very rare serious disorder reported mainly in people with severe renal dysfunction
gadoteridol in pregnancy
Gadoteridol is not recommended during pregnancy unless clinical need makes contrast-enhanced MRI essential. Tell the imaging team if you are or could be pregnant so a radiologist can consider unenhanced MRI or another investigation.
gadoteridol while breastfeeding
Current UK specialist advice says breastfeeding need not be interrupted after gadoteridol when the infant is full-term and healthy. Transfer into milk is expected to be very small and absorption by the infant’s gut poor. Seek specialist advice if the infant is premature or unwell.
gadoteridol interactions
No drug interactions with gadoteridol are currently known. Give the imaging team a complete medicines history because it may affect assessment of kidney function, allergies or the wider MRI procedure.
Common questions about gadoteridol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is gadoteridol used for an MRI scan?
It temporarily changes the magnetic behaviour of nearby water, improving contrast between selected tissues and helping abnormalities appear more clearly.
Is gadoteridol radioactive?
No. It is a paramagnetic contrast agent, and MRI does not use ionising radiation.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.