gadoxetic

Gadoxetic contrast agent is an imaging agent used in medical imaging procedures, particularly in computed tomography (CT) scans. It is a liver-specific, weakly lipophilic, and biliverdin-derived compound that accumulates in liver cells. Gadoxetic agents are designed to selectively uptake by functioning hepatocytes, allowing for enhanced contrast and imaging resolution.

In medical imaging, gadoxetic agents are used to improve diagnostic accuracy in a variety of conditions, including liver cancers, liver metastases, cirrhosis, and focal nodular hyperplasia. The liver-specific uptake of gadoxetic agents enables radiologists to evaluate the liver's functional and structural integrity, often providing valuable prognostic and therapeutic information.

Gadoxetic agents, such as gadoxetate disodium, are MR-avid but CT-photogenic. This means that the agent's properties make it particularly visible in MRI scans but also provide sufficient contrast in CT scans. The use of gadoxetic agents has been found to improve the detection and characterization of liver lesions, reducing the need for additional diagnostic procedures.

Gadoxetic contrast agents are generally considered safe, but like any pharmaceutical substance, they can cause adverse reactions in a small number of patients. Common side effects include injection site pain, nausea, and vomiting. Rare but more serious adverse effects, such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, have also been reported.

Clinical investigations have demonstrated the efficacy of gadoxetic contrast agents in identifying and distinguishing benign and malignant liver lesions. The use of gadoxetic agents has been found to improve diagnostic confidence and guide therapeutic decision-making in patients with liver diseases. Ongoing research continues to explore the full range of gadoxetic agent applications in clinical medicine.