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

Avsnitt(1145)

Podcast #248: Family Presence During Resuscitation

Podcast #248: Family Presence During Resuscitation

Author: Aaron Lessen, M.D. Educational Pearls Traditionally the family is removed from the room during procedures and codes, but recent research shows that family presence may be beneficial. 50% pati...

8 Sep 20173min

Podcast #249: D-Dimer

Podcast #249: D-Dimer

Author: Michael Hunt, M.D. Educational Pearls In the recent YEARS study, investigators checked every patient with suspicion for PE with a D-dimer, using a modified Wells score for risk stratification...

6 Sep 20173min

Podcast #248: Patent Foramen Ovale

Podcast #248: Patent Foramen Ovale

Author: Jared Scott, M.D. Educational Pearls The foramen ovale (FO) connects the left and right atria to allow oxygenated blood to bypass the developing lungs, it usually closes at birth but for some...

4 Sep 20173min

Podcast #247: Are You Listening? - 3 Ear Emergencies You Can't Miss!

Podcast #247: Are You Listening? - 3 Ear Emergencies You Can't Miss!

Author: Don Stader, M.D. Educational Pearls Ear pain is a common complaint in adults and kids. A red, hot, painful ear with involvement of the pinna could indicate perichondritis - an infection of th...

2 Sep 20176min

Podcast #246: Fever in Sepsis

Podcast #246: Fever in Sepsis

Author: Nick Hatch, M.D. Educational Pearls A recent observational cohort study found that the biggest predictor for sepsis survival was fever. Those with higher fevers had better outcomes. Some poss...

31 Aug 20172min

Podcast #245: Hypoglycemia

Podcast #245: Hypoglycemia

Author: Dylan Luyten, M.D. Educational Pearls Hypoglycemia is very common in type 2 diabetics, and is often caused by insulin overdose or missed meals. Knowing the peak time of action for common diab...

29 Aug 20174min

Podcast #244: Clavicle Fracture Review

Podcast #244: Clavicle Fracture Review

Author: Nick Hatch, M.D. Educational Pearls The force required to break a clavicle is significant, so clavicle fracture may be associated with other injury (pneumothorax, vascular injury). Most fract...

27 Aug 20172min

Podcast #243: Sphenopalatine Nerve Block

Podcast #243: Sphenopalatine Nerve Block

Author: Don Stader, M.D. Educational Pearls Cluster headaches are usually intense, unilateral, and involve the periorbital area. CN V (Trigeminal) provides sensory and autonomic innervation the face...

25 Aug 20174min

Populärt inom Vetenskap

p3-dystopia
dumma-manniskor
svd-nyhetsartiklar
allt-du-velat-veta
kapitalet-en-podd-om-ekonomi
det-morka-psyket
pojkmottagningen
dumforklarat
rss-vetenskapsradion-2
rss-vetenskapsradion
sexet
halsorevolutionen
rss-ufo-bortom-rimligt-tvivel
rss-spraket
rss-experimentet
vetenskapsradion
rss-broccolipodden-en-podcast-som-inte-handlar-om-broccoli
medicinvetarna
bildningspodden
4health-med-anna-sparre