The FDA is aware of Gadolinium that can remain in the system and has a committee in place for the monitoring of data from manufacturers, patients and medical facilities. To date there are no issues for individuals with normal kidney function. In Low-Risk Patients (Normal Kidney Function), the FDA considers gadolinium-based contrast agents generally safe, but they are monitoring for potential long-term effects.

In Higher-Risk Patients (Kidney Disease, Pregnant, Children, Frequent Scans): The FDA advises caution and use of macrocyclic GBCAs, which are less likely to release free gadolinium. If you are scheduled for an MRI, have the ordering physician specify on the procedure order to use GBCA’s.

Procedures have benefits and risks and a patient has to weight having a diagnostic procedure where there are no reports of serious sequela in those with normal kidney function to not having the procedure, missing development of a new primary tumor, metastatic disease or detection of a mucinous cyst with concerning features-thus missing the opportunity for earlier detection and savings one life.

I went through the challenges of the Whipple procedure, nearly losing my life to metastatic disease in my liver, going through 2 years of aggressive full-dose Folfirinox to save my life and achieve cure. The statistics speak for themselves in how recalcitrant pancreatic cancer is-it I has the worst record and 80% develop recurrence/progression within 24 months of treatment ending. The statistics of a new primary tumor occurring in the long-term survivor cohort is 15-20% in those that achieve 5 years and beyond. I’ve weighed the risks and I know what it is like doing the most potent chemotherapy to knock out advanced metastatic disease when it went undetected for months and the first chemo regimen had absolutely no effect. I accept the risk of no reports of anyone with healthy kidney function being impacted by life-threatening sequela using Gadolinium in the many years it has been in use for better detection of disease that results in treatment starting sooner when disease is easier to treat. Cumulative radiation from a CT and known issues with iodine-based contrast agents being harsh on the kidneys is why I chose to make the switch to MRI/MRCP for long-term surveillance.