What Are Gadolinium Enhancing Lesions?

Gadolinium enhancing lesions appear only on magnetic resonance imagine (MRI) scans of patients who receive gadolinium enhancement injections. The gadolinium only highlights areas of damage by leaking the highlighting contrast agent into the surrounding area of the brain where the damage occurs.

Identification

• Gadolinium enhancing lesions appear as bright spots on an MRI image.

Significance

• Lesions that enhance with the administration of gadolinium dye indicate active inflammation, as compared with old lesions that do not highlight with gadolinium usage. Active disease warrants treatment to reduce the likelihood of permanent damage.

Function

• The gadolinium enhancing lesions help identify active multiple sclerosis. Before gadolinium contrast agents, there was no way to differentiate between active and inactive lesions in multiple sclerosis.

Effects

• The use of gadolinium dye allows doctors to identify small lesions that they might not have otherwise been able to see. Its main use is to determine disease activity in multiple sclerosis. This allows for treatment adjustment based on MRI monitoring.

Considerations

• Gadolinium dye is not safe for those with kidney problems. Inform the doctor ordering the scan if kidney problems are an issue, and discuss whether gadolinium is the best choice for the circumstances.

Warning

• Adverse reactions to gadolinium, while rare, do occur. These reactions include skin issues such as rash, itching, swelling and hives. Contact a doctor immediately or seek treatment at a hospital emergency room if these symptoms appear after administration of gadolinium.