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

Episoder(1146)

Podcast 604: Baclofen Withdrawal

Podcast 604: Baclofen Withdrawal

Contributor: Erik Verzemnieks, MD Educational Pearls: Baclofen is used to treat muscle spasms or spasticity. Baclofen comes in two forms: oral and intrathecal Withdrawal is much more common with thos...

13 Okt 20202min

Podcast 603: Don't Sedate. Block.

Podcast 603: Don't Sedate. Block.

Contributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Fractures and dislocations that require reduction do not necessarily require sedation Nerve blocks are an effective alternative that can provide analg...

12 Okt 20203min

Podcast 602: Post-Narcan Observation

Podcast 602: Post-Narcan Observation

Contributor: Donald Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Not uncommon for patients presenting after opiate overdose and narcan administration to be observed for 4-6 hours This has been based more on tradit...

6 Okt 20204min

Podcast 601: Droperidol

Podcast 601: Droperidol

Contributor: Sam Killian, MD Educational Pearls: Droperidol (Inapsine) is an antipsychotic drug with efficacy for nausea, vomiting, headaches, and treating agitation In the early 2000's, Droperidol ...

5 Okt 20204min

Pediatric Emergencies Brewcast: Pediatric Fever

Pediatric Emergencies Brewcast: Pediatric Fever

Emergency Medical Minute collaborated with CarePoint Health in early March for a night of education on Pediatric Emergencies geared towards mid-level providers at a local Denver brewery for our latest...

30 Sep 202013min

Podcast 600: Penicillin Allergy?

Podcast 600: Penicillin Allergy?

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: True allergies to penicillin compared to reported allergies from patients ranges around 10% Recent study took patients undergoing sensitivity tests a...

29 Sep 20202min

Podcast 599: Facial Blocks for the Win

Podcast 599: Facial Blocks for the Win

Contributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Local anesthetics injected directly into wounds can cause distortion - especially important in facial lacerations Several blocks can be helpful to help...

28 Sep 20205min

UnfilterED #10: Debi Smith

UnfilterED #10: Debi Smith

General Counsel attorney, Debi Smith, joins Dr. Nick Tsipis to discuss the ins and outs of healthcare law. Many people forget that a subpoena only compels attendance to a court date, it does not compe...

23 Sep 202024min

Populært innen Vitenskap

fastlegen
rekommandert
tingenes-tilstand
jss
rss-rekommandert
liberal-halvtime
villmarksliv
forskningno
rss-paradigmepodden
sinnsyn
fjellsportpodden
rss-nysgjerrige-norge
vett-og-vitenskap-med-gaute-einevoll
nevropodden
diagnose
smart-forklart
dekodet-2
abid-nadia-skyld-og-skam
tidlose-historier
nordnorsk-historie