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 #375: Retrograde Urethrogram

Podcast #375: Retrograde Urethrogram

Author: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Blood at urethral meatus in trauma can be a sign of bladder/urethral injury Blind placement of a Foley catheter can make an undiagnosed urethral injur...

6 Syys 20185min

Podcast #374:  Iliac Artery Endofibrosis

Podcast #374: Iliac Artery Endofibrosis

Author:  Sue Chilton, MD Educational Pearls:   An unusual cause of leg pain that can mimic sciatica/claudication Predominantly occurring in high endurance athletes, particularly cyclists and runner...

4 Syys 20183min

Podcast # 373: Legionnaires Disease

Podcast # 373: Legionnaires Disease

Author: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Legionnaires disease refers to a severe pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophilia and occurs typically at the extremes of age Associated gastroi...

1 Syys 20183min

Podcast # 372:  The Latest on Epinephrine in Cardiac Arrest

Podcast # 372: The Latest on Epinephrine in Cardiac Arrest

Author: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: 8014 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest randomized to epinephrine vs placebo 30-day survival was not dramatically better between groups (3.2%...

30 Elo 20183min

Podcast # 371: EKG changes of Hyperkalemia

Podcast # 371: EKG changes of Hyperkalemia

Author: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: EKG changes do not necessarily correlate to degree of hyperkalemia Traditional progression through peaked T-waves, flattened p-waves, QRS widening, an...

28 Elo 20183min

Podcast # 370:  Rapid Fire Neonatal Resuscitation

Podcast # 370: Rapid Fire Neonatal Resuscitation

Author:  Erik Verzemnieks, MD Educational Pearls:   In the panic of a precipitous ED delivery, remember: Warm. Dry. Stim.  It will solve most of your problems in most scenarios Start compressions i...

24 Elo 20181min

Podcast # 369:  Five powerful toxins - the definitive list?

Podcast # 369: Five powerful toxins - the definitive list?

Author: Michael Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Here is a list of some very toxic natural substances:     #5: Tetrodotoxin: Found in pufferfish and other aquatic species #4: Ricin: made from castor beans...

22 Elo 20183min

Podcast # 368: Prehospital Plasma

Podcast # 368: Prehospital Plasma

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Non-blinded randomized study assessing 30-day mortality benefit from plasma-first resuscitation in patients at risk hemorrhagic shock Study involved a...

20 Elo 20182min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

tiedekulma-podcast
rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
rss-poliisin-mieli
rss-duodecim-lehti
docemilia
utelias-mieli
filocast-filosofian-perusteet
rss-ammamafia
rss-astetta-parempi-elama-podcast
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
rss-sosiopodi
rss-tiedetta-vai-tarinaa