Podcast 582:  Gadolinium - The Contrast of MRI

Podcast 582: Gadolinium - The Contrast of MRI

Contributor: Michael Hunt, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Contrast agents are commonly used for X-rays and CT's to better characterize disease, but contrast doesn't work with MRI. That's where the element Gadolinium comes into play.
  • Gadolinium, element 64, is ferromagnetic (attracted to iron) below 68 degrees and above that temperature it's paramagnetic which makes it useful in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
  • Gadolinium is toxic alone, but when paired with chelators it can be used in humans and allows for better characterization of tumors or abnormal tissue on MRI.
  • It helps identify this abnormal tissue because when MRI causes polarization of our body's cells, the gadolinium, which has the maximum number of unpaired electrons in its orbital shells, alters the rate of decay in abnormal tissue highlighting abnormalities on imaging.
  • Gadolinium can also be used in the treatment of cancers because it collects in the cells of abnormal tissue, allowing for more targeted therapies.
  • In people exposed to gadolinium, the anaphylaxis rate is low, below 1/1000, and in rare cases there are reports of kidney injury and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis which is why it's not recommended in renal failure patients.

References

1)Ibrahim MA, Hazhirkarzar B, Dublin AB. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Gadolinium. [Updated 2020 Mar 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482487/

2)Pasquini L, Napolitano A, Visconti E, et al. Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent-Related Toxicities [published correction appears in CNS Drugs. 2018 May 15;:]. CNS Drugs. 2018;32(3):229-240. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0500-1

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

Jaksot(1146)

Podcast 515: Non-Accidental Trauma

Podcast 515: Non-Accidental Trauma

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Non-accidental trauma (NAT) to children is commonly missed by medical providers Try to remember TEN-4-FACES as a useful aide for concerning patterns t...

1 Marras 20194min

Podcast 514: Pain Control While on Naltrexone

Podcast 514: Pain Control While on Naltrexone

Author: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Suboxone, methadone, and naltrexone are commonly used as treatments for opiate use disorder.  Naltrexone is a full mu-opiate receptor antagonist, making acu...

30 Loka 20192min

Podcast 513: Plague

Podcast 513: Plague

Author: John Winkler, MD Educational Pearls: The plague (black death) is caused by the Yersinia Pestis bacteria. This bacteria is spread by fleas and carried by rats. It is very contagious and only n...

27 Loka 20192min

Podcast 512: Abstinence is Bad, mmmkay?

Podcast 512: Abstinence is Bad, mmmkay?

Author: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Abstinence from substances such as tobacco or alcohol are effective strategies to achieve long term sobriety However, abstinence is not an effective strateg...

22 Loka 20194min

Podcast 511: Ebola Treatment

Podcast 511: Ebola Treatment

Author: Rachel Beham, PharmD Educational Pearls: There are currently many Ebola vaccines that are being studied, and one (recombinant VZV-Ebola vaccine) is currently being used in Africa. This vaccin...

17 Loka 20194min

Podcast # 510: Ebola

Podcast # 510: Ebola

Author: John Winkler, MD Educational Pearls: There is a new outbreak of Ebola in The Congo. This is likely due to civil war and rebel attacks on healthcare workers in the area. Ebola is now spreadin...

16 Loka 20193min

Podcast 509: Circadian Rhythm and Shift Work, From Z to Z

Podcast 509: Circadian Rhythm and Shift Work, From Z to Z

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Sleep deprivation and disturbed sleep cycles increases the risk of many acute and chronic medical issues such as motor vehicle accidents, diabetes, ca...

12 Loka 201915min

Podcast 508: Are you with child?

Podcast 508: Are you with child?

Contributor: Chris Holmes, MD Educational Pearls: In ancient Egypt, pregnant women would urinate over barley and wheat seeds to help determine the sex of thier fetus, as well as if they were pregnant...

10 Loka 20194min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

tiedekulma-podcast
rss-poliisin-mieli
rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
docemilia
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
utelias-mieli
radio-antro
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
rss-lapsuuden-rakentajat-podcast
rss-lihavuudesta-podcast
rss-sosiopodi