Resovist® is an organ-specific MRI contrast agent, used for the detection and characterization of especially small focal liver lesions.
Resovist® consists of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles coated with carboxydextran, which are accumulated by phagocytosis in cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of the liver. The uptake of Resovist® Injection in the reticuloendothelial cells results in a decrease of the signal intensity of normal liver parenchyma on both T2- and T1 weighted images.
Most malignant liver tumors do not contain RES cells and therefore do not uptake the iron particles. The resulting imaging effect is an improved contrast between the tumor (bright) and the surrounding tissue (dark).
Resovist® can be injected as an intravenous bolus, which allows immediate imaging of the liver and reduces the overall examination time. A dynamic imaging strategy after bolus injection supports to characterize lesions. In comprehensive clinical trials, it demonstrated an excellent safety profile.
In 2001, Resovist® was approved for the European market.

See also Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide.

Resovist® competed with Primovist™, the other liver imaging agent of Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Due to this reason, the production of Resovist® has been abandoned in 2009.

Short name: SHU 555 A, generic name: Ferucarbotran
A RES-directed MRI contrast agent (SPIO) made-up of a colloidal sol of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with carboxydextran (Resovist®, Cliavist™).
It is used for the detection and characterization of especially small focal liver lesions and offers the opportunity to make a reliable diagnosis at a very early stage of patients with suspected liver tumors.
Bayer Schering Pharma AG announced that it has received marketing approval for the liver-specific contrast agent Resovist® in Japan. See Contrast Agents and Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents.

Contrast agent with a preferential intracellular distribution.
Intracellular agents (such as manganese derivatives and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide), exhibit a flow- and metabolism-dependent uptake. These properties may allow delayed imaging, similar to isotopic methods.
Phospholipid liposomes are rapidly sequestered by the cells in the reticuloendothelial system (RES), primarily in the liver. For imaging of the liver, liposomes may be labeled with MR contrast medium, both positive (T1-shortening) paramagnetic media, and negative (T2-shortening) superparamagnetic media.
Several other nonliposome MR contrast media are also taken up by the RES, e.g.:
Other MR contrast agents accumulate selectively in the hepatocytes, e.g.: