Side Effects and Complications of Magnetic Resonance Contrast Media

Authors

  • Aikaterini Tavernaraki
  • Anna Skoula
  • Stylianos Benakis
  • Dimitrios Exarhos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2015/hc.v7i4.433

Keywords:

magnetic resonance imaging, gadolinium, gadolinium induced nephrotoxicity, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

Abstract

Contrast media used in radiology are iodine based for computed tomography (CT) examinations and gadolinium based for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Initially, gadolinium based contrast media were thought to be safe and non-nephrotoxic. Later on, several studies revealed that they can also be nephrotoxic at increased doses. Additionally, another complication from their use is systematic nephrogenic fibrosis. Gadolinium based contrast media can be safe in healthy and renal insufficiency patients if used at specific doses. These complications are herein briefly reviewed and guidelines and techniques for their avoidance are discussed.

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Published

2012-08-24

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2012)

Section

REVIEWS

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