If you have a known contrast allergy-or are at risk-the hospital staff will take every precaution to protect you from a negative reaction. Tell them about any allergies, recent illnesses, or medications you have. It is crucial that you communicate well with your doctor. In rare cases, people have allergic reactions to contrast materials. Although it takes longer, the clearer images it provides for your doctor are worth the wait. This is because of the time it takes to administer the contrast and for it to start working. For example, it could add four hours of prep time to a five-minute CT scan or make a thirty-minute MRI last two hours. If you need contrast, your exam will probably take longer than if you weren’t having contrast. So, contrast doesn’t alter anything inside of you, it only alters the way medical imaging equipment sees the inside of you. Similarly, contrasts used in magnetic-powered exams like MRIs and ultrasounds alter the way magnetic fields interact with the parts of the body containing contrast. This changes how the tissues that contain the medical imaging contrast appear on your images. For example, the contrast used in an X-ray or CT exam is made of a substance that will block or limit radiation in certain parts of your body. Your body will naturally absorb or eliminate the contrast materials after your exam.Ĭontrast dye works by using substances that interfere with how the medical imaging equipment takes your images. It will also determine how it needs to be administered (orally or intravenously). The kind of exam you are receiving will determine what kind of contrast you’ll need. In cases where it is needed, contrast ultimately leads to better care.Ĭontrast can be swallowed as a drink or injected into a vein. In turn, this allows them to make a more accurate diagnosis, and recommend the best treatment for your specific case. This helps them to see what’s going on inside of you better. It doesn’t change any of these things, but it changes how your X-ray, CT, or MRI scan sees them.Ĭontrast is important because it helps radiologists distinguish between normal and abnormal conditions. It can be an iodine-based material, barium-sulfate, gadolinium, or saline and air mixture that can be swallowed or injected intravenously.Ĭontrast distinguishes, or “ contrasts ,” between organs, tissues, bones, or blood vessels during your imaging exam. You might need contrast when you are having an X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound exam. It’s kind of like a dye in the way that it temporarily changes how your insides appear on a medical image, but it won’t change the color of anything and it won’t hurt you. But receiving contrast dye isn’t like going to the hairstylist-it won’t change the color of your organs and bones!Ĭontrast Dye – What It Does and Why You Need ItĬontrast dye-sometimes referred to as medical imaging contrast, contrast materials or contrast agent-is a substance that radiologists use to see your organs and tissues more clearly in your medical images. Contrast dye (also called medical imaging contrast, or contrast agent) is a substance radiologists use that acts like a dye. If your doctor has ordered you to have a medical imaging exam, you may have a test that uses contrast dye.
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