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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Assess the evolution of gadolinium consumption and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners in France and Western Brittany (France) and compare regional practices between public and private hospitals for each organ specialty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected data from national and universal health registries, and Western Brittany's health care structures, between 2011 and 2018, about the number of MR imaging exams and machines, the number of delivered GBCAs (gadolinium-based contrast agents), prescriptions and administration protocols. RESULTS: Over the last eight years, we observed an increase in the number of MRI machines implemented in France (62%), correlated with the increase of annual gadolinium consumption (amount of delivered GBCAs in kg, 64%), without modification of the annual quantity of gadolinium used per machine (2.7kg in 2018). In Western Brittany, gadolinium impact is assigned to neuroimaging exams (50% CI95% 45;56 of all the contrast-enhanced exams), followed by thorax and abdomen exams (23% CI95% 18;28). The ratio of injected exams to all exams is greater in public than in private hospitals (respectively 48% CI95% 46;49 versus 29% CI95% 26;30). CONCLUSION: Gadolinium consumption is increasing, correlated with the increase in the number of examinations carried out. Regionally, the main impact comes from neuroimaging exams. No change in practices has been observed in recent years despite some warnings about gadolinium deposits and environmental consequences.
Chazot et al. (Sat,) studied this question.