ObjectivesDepositions of linear gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents are readily visible in T1-weighted MRIs of certain brain regions in both adults and children. Macrocyclic contrast agents such as gadobutrol have so far escaped detection by qualitative MRI in children. This study aimed to assess whether there is evidence for deposition of gadobutrol in children using quantitative T1 mapping.MethodsThis retrospective study included patients, naive to other gadolinium-based contrast agents than gadobutrol, who had received gadobutrol as part of a clinically indicated MRI. For each patient, T1 relaxation times at 3 T were measured using single-shot T1 mapping at two time points. In each of six brain regions, age-adjusted T1 relaxation times were correlated with a number of previous gadobutrol administrations. To combine interindividual, cross-sectional effects with intraindividual, longitudinal effects, both linear mixed model and generalized additive mixed model were applied.ResultsOne hundred four examinations of 52 children (age median 11.4, IQR 6.3–15, 26 female) with a median of 7 doses of gadobutrol in the history of their neurological or neurooncological disease were included. After correction for age and indeterminate disease-related effects to T1 time, a negative correlation of T1 time with the number of gadobutrol doses administered was observed in both mixed models in the putamen (beta − 1.65,p= .03) and globus pallidus (beta − 1.98,p= .012)ConclusionsThe results indicate that in children, gadobutrol is deposited in the globus pallidus and putamen.Key Points• Previous gadobutrol administration correlates with reduced T1 relaxation times in the globus pallidus and putamen in children.• This decreased T1 might be caused by gadobutrol retention within these gray-matter nuclei.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00330-022-09297-y.