contrast dye??

lmcamia59

Anyone know if the dye used for CT's is the same used for MRI's? Am allergic to CT dye and am going for breast mri and am wondering if the dye is the same for this test??

raluca63

I have asked the MRI technologyst this question and he's said that the injections are different.
I had a slight allergy to the CT dye, but nothing happened after the MRI dye... for me. After the injection for CT scan I had also hot flushes for a few min and a bad test in my mouth and this hasn't happened after the MRI injection.

Good luck,

Calipso

wallycat

Gadolinium is used in the MRI contrast dye and an iodine based dye is used for CT scans.

lmcamia59

Thanks for your helpful feedback!

rubytuesday

Mod notified...changing back subject. Don't these people have lives????

Anyhow, back to the topic:
I always refuse the contrast for CT (iodine) because of asthma but have had the MRI contrast (no iodine) without any problems.

sjoc

When I was having a CT the tech told me that I would feel a sudden flush and the strange taste, it only lasted for a few minutes though.

Anonymous

CT dye is usually iodine. MRI is gadolinium. I am highly allergic to iodine, so with the MRI, I get 2 steroid pills b4 the procedure. Better safe than sorry. Its two pills, one the night b4, and the morning of the MRI.. Since radiation I have developed serious allergies of unknown origin. Currently remain on Zyrtec and just let them know your allergic, PERIOD. Any allergic reaction could be a potential problem, and since they have meds to prevent it, just make sure you get them.

Peace and prayers.

swimfan

spam bump , moderators notified

Maire67

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moogie

I went into shock from contrast dye in the 80's and also was concerned. The dye they used with my breast MRI was gadolineum, a radioactive dye. The one I reacted to in the past was an iodine based dye. I am super allergic and they said reactions to gadolineum were rare. I had no problem. Extreme stress can cause hives and rashing , so my advice is to get a valium on the way in ( about 30 minutes before the test)...to relax you.

Good Luck!

Moogie

erika-canada

Hi Sisters:

I can say this with certainty, having worked as a medical transcriber in Radiology for more years that I wish to count.

When the contrast is injected most people feel this sense of heat and a somewhat, almost a bit metallic taste. A lot of people actually feel like they wet themselves ....... this is not an allergy; this is quite normal. I'm surprised the tech did not explain this before hand.

Also, there is a non-ionic contrast, which you should request if you are allergic to iodine.

The lady previosly posting certainly is correct; CT's and MRI contrast medias are totally different.

Should this make a person feel more secure.....these techs are highly trained and always have anti-allergy meds with a syringe

ready-to-go, if the need arises. please, don't let these tests scare you!!

Big Hugs,

Erika 

EachDay

Being severely allergic to contrast dye used in CTs and other tests (my most severe was for the kidney/renal test), I was wary.  I have not had an MRI but I did have an angiogram, was terrified of the dye but the doctor and the nurses assured  me the contrast dye of old has been changed and I would be fine.  I trusted them, and as well they doped me up with so much anti allergy meds, plus had everything ready in case I had a reaction regardless.  I did not and it was a breeze.  So for those of us who have this allergy, progress is being made.

Thanks for the reassurance Erika.  It's nice to hear the "truth" from the trenches, from someone who really knows and your comments to not let the tests scare us because anti-allergy meds are ready should be well noted by the others.

The  most important thing of all though?  Please make sure you tell any doctors, technicians and nurses of the allergy (any allergy you have to anything) and repeat it often.  Red coding is used on your chart and if they know ahead of time you are in good hands.  Never assume that it is written in your chart or that someone has passed the word.  It's up to us to be vigilant.  Always.

leaf

Sounds like there are several different agents that can be used for CT contrast, including barium, which is usually used for abdominal/pelvic CTs.



"There are four types of contrast agent used in CT:



The type that is given via intravenous (through a vein) injection

The type that is given orally

The type that is given rectally

A much less common type of contrast used in CT is inhaled as a gas and used for special lung and brain imaging. This technique (called Xenon CT) is only available at a small number of locations throughout the world and is only performed for rare cases.

CT Contrast Given Via Intravenous Injection



Intravenous contrast is used in CT to help highlight blood vessels and to enhance the tissue structure of various organs such as the brain, spine, liver and kidneys. "Intravenous" means that the contrast is injected into a vein using a small needle. Some imaging exams of the abdomen and gastrointestinal system use both the intravenous iodine and orally administered barium contrast for maximum sensitivity.



The intravenous CT contrast is clear like water and has a similar consistency. It is typically packaged in glass bottle or vial. A sterile syringe is used to draw it from the bottle or a power injector is used to administer the contrast. Typically between 75 cc to 150 cc (about 2.5 oz. to 5 oz) of contrast is used depending upon the patient's age, weight, area being imaged and cardiovascular health.



How does Intravenous CT Contrast Work?



A small needle is first placed into a vein in the hand or arm by the radiologist, technologist or a nurse and held in place with tape or a strap. Once the needle is in place, the vein is flushed with saline solution. Typically the contrast is loaded into a power-assisted injector, which injects the CT contrast using tubing through the needle into the body during a specific period in the CT exam. The injection is fully under the control of the technologist or radiologist. The injector is either mounted on a small trolley or hung from a ceiling mounted suspension next to the CT scanner. The contrast may also be hand injected using a large syringe connected to the needle via tubing.



Once the iodine contrast has been injected into the blood stream, it circulates through the heart and passes into the arteries, through the body's capillaries and then into the veins and back to the heart. As CT images are being acquired, the CT's x-ray beam is attenuated (weakened) as they pass through the blood vessels and organs flush with the contrast. This causes the blood vessels and organs filled with the contrast to "enhance" and show up as white areas on the x-ray or CT images. The kidneys and liver eliminate the contrast from the blood.



What Preparation is Needed Before Receiving Intravenous Contrast?



Sometimes it is necessary to not drink anything for an hour to several hours before the exam. The preparation time varies depending on the actual exam as well as the imaging center's requirements. Always ask the staff where the exam is scheduled for exact guidelines.



Is Intravenous CT Contrast Safe?



Typically, a patient will be asked to sign an "informed consent form" prior to having an CT exam which uses iodine contrast. This form will outline the potential side effects of the iodine. Overall, iodine is safe and has been used for many years and in millions of x-ray, CT and angiogram studies without serious side effects. Iodine contrast increases the sensitivity of the CT study. Thus the benefits of using iodine contrast typically outweighs the risks.



Patients should inform the radiologist or technologist if they have a history of allergies (especially to medications, previous iodine injections, or shellfish), diabetes, asthma, a heart condition, kidney problems, or thyroid conditions. These conditions may indicate a higher risk of iodine reactions or problems with eliminating the iodine after the exam.



The most common side effect of iodine includes a warm or hot "flushed" sensation during the actual injection of the iodine and a "metallic" taste in the mouth, which usually lasts less than a minute or so. This can vary depending on the type of iodine used, the rate at which it is administered, and individual patient sensitivity. There is no treatment necessary for this sensation



Another mild reaction that can take place following the administration of iodine is itching over various parts of the body with hives (bumps on the skin). This reaction can last from several minutes to several hours after the injection. This type of reaction is usually treated with medication administered by the radiologist, nurse, technologist or other physician.



More serious reactions, although much less likely, may include breathing difficulty, swelling of the throat, or swelling of other parts of the body. These reactions can be more serious if not treated immediately.



With newer types of "non-ionic" contrast (non-ionic means that the iodine has a different chemical structure than normal iodine contrast), the risk of an allergic reaction can be even less. Patients should discuss all of their questions with the imaging staff when they arrive and make sure they read and understand the "informed consent" form before having the exam.



In some cases, a CT can still provide valuable information without the administration of a contrast agent, and the physician may decide this is the best course for the patient at risk of reaction to contrast.



Oral CT Contrast



Note: It is important that patients consult the imaging location performing their CT exam for specific instructions to follow when contrast will be used. The information contained herein is only a general guideline.



Oral contrast is often used to enhance CT images of the abdomen and pelvis. There are two different types of substances used for oral CT contrast. The first, barium sulfate, is the most common oral contrast agent used in CT. The second type of contrast agent is sometimes used as a substitute for barium and is called Gastrografin.



Barium contrast looks like and has a similar consistency as a milk shake. It is mixed with water and depending on the brand used, may have different flavors (for example, strawberry or lemon). Gastrografin contrast is a water-based drink mixed with iodine and has a tinted yellow color. When given orally, gastrografin may taste bitter.



Patients usually need to drink at least 1000 to 1500 cc (about three to four 12 oz. drinks) to sufficiently fill the stomach and intestines with oral contrast.



http://www.imaginis.com/ct-scan/contrast.asp

Indigoblue

 Thank you, so much, for all this information!  I was so ignorant of the side effects regarding any or all these solutions injected, swallowed, infused, eaten, etc.  Unbelievable. 

And, I always asked... always.  Always went home thinking..."ask me no questions, tell you no lies"... and I asked, but they only told me everything was "safe", even after I was so sick from one of the contrast dyes, and called the doctors after 8 pm.  They made me feel like a hypochondriac, moronic fool!

Contrast Dye? When I asked about it's dangers and side effects, I was told: "so, what, you already have cancer, anyway!". 

It's almost two years later, and that comment continues to haunt and annoy.  Well, it was the radioactive dye inducer pre-sentinal node, and he was the ickiest ick; still, his attitude and comment rang a little subconcious bell.  When I asked the same question before other testing procedural dye injections, I was always told it would "wash" away, minisculte amounts of radiation wouldn't harm the body, and mammograms are perfectly safe.

I don't know.  Do you? 

Sometimes I think the mammograms caused the cancer in the first place.  But, I can also think of a billion other toxic moments and carcenogenic chemicals, water, air, etc. Yikes!  As a Brownie and a Girlscout, I used to stand behind the bus and enjoy the odor...ahhhhhhhh!

So, who knows...

I'm "dying" to know! lol.

Indi

Oh, forgot why I responded to this post... every time I had dye contrasts, I'd return home, feel flu like symptoms, short of breathing, itching, a slight rash and headache, and usually resulted in vomiting and muscle pains.  When I mentioned it to the techs, rads docs, surgeon, chemo docs, they all said the contrast dyes were harmless, and I was likely reacting to stress, anxiety or really a virus or illness. 

Now I am reading these unbelievable comments, and I have no idea as to whether or not I am allergic to iodine, etc.  It is amazing that we are not told of the possibility and/or probability in which such a reaction may occur.  I am "drug-sensitive" with lots of allergies, and had to take triple doses of Decadron when a rash covered my body during the Taxol treatments, as well as cramping, head, throat, stomach and body spasms.  As a triple negative, I was told it was the only "hopeful" drug, and received 12 weekly treatments. 

I was not offered the "new" Taxol, which doesn't contain (Pinesol? cleaning solution, lol).  Chemobrain is bad lately....

Indi

cp418

I had a breast MRI done back in July. The nurse had difficulty starting the contrast IV in my hand and had to stick me 3 times and afterwards my hand was very sore and painful. Now I continue to have pain in my hand where the needle had been stuck. Anyone have any idea or had problems like this with IVs?  I most certainly did not have this pain prior to the MRI so I am certain it is not due to the Femara.  It is specific to the site where I was stuck on my right hand. Thanks Joann

lizbeth103051

my mom was just diagnosed w/ invasive lobular in her left breast she  (she is 75).  she now has to have her 1st mri and is very nervous, she does not want it.  i think it is important, the surgeon says if she does not want it she does not have to but it would be better for the radiologist to make his assessment as well as maybe not needing the one lymphnode removed for diagnoses.  she is allergic to shellfish so if she does have this, should we ask for the non-reactive dye?  thank you so much - this is just the beginning and i know it is hard for all the families and breast cancer survivors that go thru this. i was one 6 years ago.  Thank you  all so much!

Anonymous

An MRI is an important test to have to see if anything else is going on in there--ILC tends to be "sneaky"; so try to encourage her to have it done. The contrast dye they inject is gadolinium, I don't know if a shellfish allergy is a problem or not, call and check ahead of time. The MRI itself is a bit noisy, but they give you headphones or earplugs. You do have to lay very still, I just close my eyes and try to relax--I have had 3  of them, they're not bad at all. (if claustrophobic, you can ask for meds ahead of time if needed). The good news--my mom is coming up on 21 years since her ILC--had lumpectomy, radiation and tamox==and is doing very well at 78 years old!

Indigoblue

MRI, funding, fun, enhancing, remarkable imaging technique.

Science profoudly improving as the squishy painful radioactive mammograms, hopefully, will no longer be the cheesy painful and particularly embarrassing practice used to find nothing in an otherwise healthy breast.  If one has dense breast tissue, the pain and stupidity of having a mammogram is worthless. It's cheap;

MRI's costly and inconvienent for insurance expenditures.  This procedure is so easy and simple, espedient and simple.  The noise is a bit freaky, but it is the best technology as far as I am concerned.

I'll take an MRI over any test available.  They cost around $2,000 compared with $ 150 .  Choice?  Insurance, choice or your choice?

Indi

joanne_elizabeth

I just tried my second mri.  The first one made me nauseous, today they had to stop the test and I actually threw up.  So, an iv later and 1/2 hour in the machine for nothing.

I have 1 dense breast left, what can you do? This technology is extremely lacking since as others have said mammos caused the loss of my first dense breast. 

Joanne 

Member_of_the_Club

MRIS are not as effective as mammograms in picking up microcalcifications. You need both.

Naniam

Joanne,

I got nauseated with the Brain MRI and also on Monday of this week for the breast MRI.  They told me if I got nauseated once, I probably would again.  They were right.  It really got next to me when I realized the contrast I would be receiving.  I had to travel for over an hour and was told I didn't need anyone to come with me.   If I had someone, they would have given me some meds before the test but couldn't as I had to drive home.  

Guess I am kind of surprised your facility didn't offer you something before the test.  They told me they give it as one fast push and that any nausea would be over in approximately 10 minutes; to try to handle it, lay still as this was the most important part of the test.  All of that and they didn't expect me to be a little apprehensive?  I made it and you will have to pick me off the floor if there is anything that shows up - so, with my problems with the contrast I will say no unless something is horribly wrong for sure.  The worst was the Brain MRI, on my back with a mask on my face so they could do the orbits and I got sick - that was kind of scary to get me out of there.

Nausea is one of the biggest side effects.  Anyone with serious kidney problems aren't to use this contrast.

Brenda 

joanne_elizabeth

Brenda,

What can they give you before the test to prevent the nausea?

They didn't tell me there was anything I could take before or after I threw up.

Mammograms do not work for me and now I guess these don't either. If there were an anti-nausea that worked I would take it.

Thanks,

Joanne 

Naniam

Joanne,

They mentioned Compazine or Benadryl to me.  Since I was alone, these can make you drowsy/sleepy, they wouldn't give me either one.   I would ask your oncologist or call and have someone in the MRI department ask one of the radiologist about giving you something.  A thought anyway.

Brenda 

 

ginger2345

A radiologist was at lunch at our medical office yesterday and stated that there was another substance used for contrast for those who couldn't use the gadolidium.

Mammos are still, though not perfect, the first line diagnostic tool for detecting bc. A large recent study has shown that MRIs are better than mammos at detecting aggressive DCIS. Of course, MRIs are tough to get paid for outside the realm of high risk women.

At this rad's clinic, anyone diagnosed with any stage bc, including  Stage 0 DCIS, gets an MRI of the other breast based on studies that show a 5-10% chance of having bc in the opposite breast. They've been doing this for 4-5 months and insurance has paid.

joanne_elizabeth

Mammos are far from perfect - they routinely miss 20-30% of cancers. I have first hand experience with that.  You would think they'd have a better non-invasive, non nauseating test by now, but it seems it is not a priority.

Maire67

.

otter

Hi, everybody--

I don't really belong in this topic because I've just been dx with my first episode of BC (IDC, 2.0 cm, node status unknown--surgical planning consult on Jan. 28).  And, I really hate to fuss about something so trivial as a little nausea from a contrast MRI, when others among us have serious nausea from chemo.  But, here goes...

I just wanted to add my experience with a breast MRI last Thursday (Jan. 24). The MRI was ordered to find out if I had any other suspicious masses besides the one already biopsied, and whether there were any at all on the other side.  The prelim MRI report was good--nothing suspicious besides the 2.0 cm mass already dx as IDC.

But, I had a terrible problem with the gadolinium contrast medium in the MRI.  I was comfortable and relaxed during the first, non-contrast part (no clostrophobia here).  When the tech announced, "OK, we're starting the injection now--you might feel a slight tingling and a cool sensation," I felt the tingling in my arm and my lower lip (!), but a warm flush instead of coolness.  OK, no problem, I thought.  I can do this. This is hugely important.

Within just a few minutes, the nausea began. I thought, this is stupid--I'm not scared, I'm not uncomfortable, that fan blowing cool air over me is fabulous, my i.v. catheter doesn't hurt at all--so, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???  I tried to relax, to take my mind off the growing nausea, because I knew this was the most important part of the MRI if they were to find any other possible malignancies.

But the nausea just got worse.  I started sweating--not just a flush, but a drenching sweat that ran down my face and over my back and dripped off onto the table.  More buzzing and clanging--the scanning wasn't over yet, and I was not going to squeeze that darn emergency bulb!

Three times I almost pressed the bulb but gritted my teeth and fought the nausea some more.  Finally I figured, if I don't bail out right now, no matter what the status of the scan, I'm going to throw up into this face padding and they'll have to stop it anyway.  So I squeezed the bulb and hollered, "Anybody there?"  Someone answered and I asked if the scan was almost done, because I was terribly nauseous.  The tech said, that's OK--you're all finished.

I was really light-headed and dizzy when I first sat up, but after a few minutes of head-down feet-up rest, another tech gave me a glass of icewater and I felt much better.

So, y'all say I have this to look forward to for each contrast MRI???  I read on-line in some medical journals that nausea and vomiting with gadolinium is a "common reaction," whereas other more serious reactions are rare.  I even read that nausea with gadolinium is so common that it doesn't need to be noted in the patient's medical record! OTOH, I also read that premedication with anti-nausea drugs can prevent the nausea.  It's not an allergy, apparently--it's due to something else.  What, I wonder?

otter 

Hanna60978

Hi. I had an MRI w/gadolidium contrast a few months ago. I actually took a child size dose of benedryl before going in because I have begun to be allergic to things since having radiation treatment. In my experience with MRI w/contrast, I did not like my reaction to the contrast.

I had no problem in the machine itself for the first half. Then they said they were starting the contrast and it might feel cool.  Well, in my hand it felt cool, but my face started flushing and feeling warm and then my heart started pounding.  I wondered if this was a panic attack but I wasn't feeling apprehensive or panicky at all.  Then I started feeling very sleepy and just laid there with all the banging going on.  When the test was over, I tried to sit up but I was just overcome with dizziness.  Again, I attributed that to laying face down for the test and thought I would just be fine in a few seconds.  Well, I was not feeling well due to dizziness and low blood pressure for several hours and didn't feel back to normal until the afternoon of the following day.  The hospital wouldn't let me go until I had someone to drive me due to my reaction to the gadolinium. 

The whole test turned out to be a failure anyway because I DID have a tumor in my breast but the MRI failed to pick it up - even with that horrible contrast. The tumor was found during a follow-up surgery a few days later. 

It is amazing to hear how other people have developed allergies only since having had radiation treatment. It is amazing how the medical community makes us all feel we are being injected with something harmless so we let it happen, thinking nothing of it - until we start having symptoms.  We try to write off the symptoms and explain them away to ourselves.  We listen to the staff who say there are no problems with the contrasts.  I don't know if what I had is an allergic reaction to gadolinium or just "a reaction".  At least we are telling each other now.  I will never take that contrast again.

joanne_elizabeth

I took an anti-nausea medication before my last one plus 1.5 mg ativan (which also has anti-nausea properties) and got thru it.  The one before this I actually barfed and the test was no good.

Joanne 

otter

Thanks--that's helpful. I think I'll try an anti-nausea drug (or ask for one) next time.  I'd hate to throw up into that face shield and ruin the test!

otter 

Anonymous

I had no problem in the machine itself for the first half. Then they said they were starting the contrast and it might feel cool. Well, in my hand it felt cool, but my face started flushing and feeling warm and then my heart started pounding. I wondered if this was a panic attack but I wasn't feeling apprehensive or panicky at all. Then I started feeling very sleepy and just laid there with all the banging going on. When the test was over, I tried to sit up but I was just overcome with dizziness. Again, I attributed that to laying face down for the test and thought I would just be fine in a few seconds. Well, I was not feeling well due to dizziness and low blood pressure for several hours and didn't feel back to normal until the afternoon of the following day. The hospital wouldn't let me go until I had someone to drive me due to my reaction to the gadolinium.

The whole test turned out to be a failure anyway because I DID have a tumor in my breast but the MRI failed to pick it up - even with that horrible contrast. The tumor was found during a follow-up surgery a few days later.
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