What is Gadolinium?
Gadolinium is a silvery white, malleable and ductile rare earth metal with a metallic luster. It crystallizes in hexagonal, close-packed alpha form at room temperature; when heated to 1508 K, it transforms into its beta form, which has a body-centered cubic structure. Unlike other rare earth elements, gadolinium is relatively stable in dry air; however, it tarnishes quickly in moist air and forms a loosely adhering oxide that spalls off and exposes more surface to oxidation. Gadolinium reacts slowly with water and is soluble in dilute acid. Gadolinium has the highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of any (known) element, 49,000 barns, but it also has a fast burn-out rate, limiting its usefulness as a nuclear control rod material. Gadolinium becomes superconductive below a critical temperature of 1.083 K. It is strongly magnetic at room temperature, and exhibits ferromagnetic properties below room temperature. Gadolinium demonstrates a magnetocaloric effect whereby its temperatur
This is an FDA approved contrast agent for MRI. Gadolinium, or gadodiamide, provides greater contrast between normal tissue and abnormal tissue in the brain and body. Gadolinium looks clear like water and is non-radioactive. After it is injected into a vein, Gadolinium accumulates in the abnormal tissue that may be affecting the body or head. Gadolinium causes these abnormal areas to become very bright (enhanced) on the MRI. This makes it very easy to see. Gadolinium is then rapidly cleared from the body by the kidneys.
Gadolinium is a metallic chemical element which is classified in the rare earth metals. Most of the world’s gadolinium is found in various minerals, which are processed to extract usable elements; this element is extremely rare in a pure form because of its reactivity and vulnerability to corrosion. It has a number of industrial uses which ensure that there is a fairly steady demand for gadolinium. Consumers rarely interact directly with gadolinium, although they may own or use products which integrate this element. In a pure form, gadolinium is a shiny white metal with a crystalline structure. It is extremely malleable, and it also reacts weakly with water. When gadolinium is exposed to moist air, it forms a distinctive flaky crust which will slough off to expose the underlying metal to the elements. Pure gadolinium can be stored in an sealed container or in mineral oil so that this crust does not form and ruin the metal. On the periodic table of elements, gadolinium is identified wit
Gadolinium, a chemical element in the periodic table, is used in an MRI/MRA in order to better observe lesions with abnormal vascularity (or those thought to cause abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier) in the brain (intracranial lesions), spine, and associated tissues. Gadolinium, which is pronounced gad•o•lin•i•um, has been shown to improve the high-temperature characteristics of iron, chromium, and related alloys, and is most notably used with magnetic resonance imaging. Gadolinium was endorsed for use in MRI scans in 1988 and has been used in millions of studies since. The element is the preferred contrast agent for folks with chronic kidney disease, however recent finding are causing many to reconsider this preference. Gadolinium gained favor because the use of iodine-containing contrast agents is still a common cause of hospital-acquired acute renal failure and is associated with increased death & morbidity. Gadolinium Contrast Dye Brand Names • Omniscan™ by GE Healthcare • Op
