In order to avoid gadolinium lingering in the body after the scan, more emphasis is now being placed on the exact volume of contrast that is really needed, and how necessary it really is for each individual patient. In response, doctors and radiology departments have altered their techniques to ensure that these possible risks are reduced as much as possible. Recently, the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded that while there is no evidence that gadolinium deposition causes harm, they have ordered manufacturers to measure patient tissue for deposition, and advised that it should only be used when “essential” to improve imaging, and at “the lowest effective dose”. Research has identified that gadolinium has the potential to remain in the body after the scan is complete, although the risk is deemed to be low and avoidable, and the presence of remaining gadolinium is not thought to have any adverse effect on a patient’s health. These statements have been made by highly regarded medical research institutions who are rightly tasked with spending a great deal of time investigating possible risks or side effects from the use of all medicines, including contrast dyes. A contrast dye injection is only ever used if certain information is required which cannot otherwise be obtained using non-contrast imaging techniques.Ī quick Google search will show you that Gadolinium has been in the news recently, and you may have come across statements about gadolinium based contrast dyes leaving behind deposits in the body. Contrast dyes are designed so that healthy kidneys recognise the contrast as something the body does not need, and excrete the agent before the complex bonds of the contrast itself have a chance to break down.įor this reason, gadolinium is generally considered to be very safe, and due to the design of modern day contrast agents, allergic-type reactions to gadolinium are very rare indeed. The vast majority of patients will feel nothing after receiving an injection of contrast and only a very small number of people will have any adverse effects.Īs with all injections, whatever the substance being injected, doctors and radiology staff are always conscious of the risks vs the benefits of performing the injection. In MRI, the contrast used contains a naturally occurring substance called Gadolinium, which is typically attached to other compounds so that it can be used in the human body without causing any harm. The particular type of contrast dye used in an MRI scan is different to other x-ray based tests. For certain conditions, contrast can effectively highlight areas of interest and help in making a more accurate, and more specific diagnosis.ĭo contrast agents have any side effects? For imaging of the brain, spine, heart and blood vessels and cancers in particular, contrast can help doctors pick up things that would otherwise not be visible. However, they are regarded to be very important when trying to get a good look at soft tissue organs and the process of disease itself. Typically injected into a vein in the hand or arm during the scan, contrast is used to enhance the appearance of certain structures within the body.ĭyes are not always essential – when looking at bones, ligaments and tendons, contrast dyes are rarely needed. The use of contrast dyes in medical imaging is extremely common.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |