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Gd

Gadolinium

Gadolinium is used as an MRI contrast agent due to its unique paramagnetic properties. Gadolinium’s seven unpaired electrons — the highest number possible for an atom — make it exceptionally effective at shortening the T1 relaxation time of nearby water protons, enhancing contrast in MRI images. 

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) significantly improve the MRI visualization of various tissues and structures. The gadolinium contrast agent increases the signal from tissues with increased blood flow, particularly in areas of inflammation or neoplasm. It enhances the contrast between normal and pathological tissue, often achieving much higher contrast than iodinated contrast agents used in CT scans.