What are contrast materials and which are available?

They enhance etwas verbessern the contrast and improve the pictures produced by x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging, and ultrasound. After body insertion das Einführen (before the examination), they let certain body structures on the images appear differently dark/light as without contrast material.

Contrast material can be applied to patients in three ways:

taken by mouth/orally – swallowed geschluckt given rectally reaktal – enema der Einlauf injected into a vein or artery. There are several types of contrast materials:

Iodine-based and barium-sulfate (powder which is mixed with water before administration, liquid, paste or tablet) compounds are used in x-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging exams. Gadolinium is the key component of a contrast material, mostly used in magnetic resonance (MR) exams (it alters etwas verändern the magnetic properties of nearby in der Nähe water molecules, which enhances etwas verbessern the quality of MR images). Saline (salt water) and air are also used as contrast materials in imaging exams, mostly used in ultrasound imaging, particularly examinations die Untersuchungen of the heart. The various contrast media differ in their chemical composition, e.g. a kidney examination, vein or artery examination will be performed with iodine-based contrast material whereas während for an examination of the gastrointestinal tract barium contrast is used. For computed tomography (CT) you mix the substances together. During a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) mostly a Gadolinium contrast gets used. It is well tolerated by patients.

When iodine-based and barium-sulfate contrast media are present in a specific area of the body, they block the ability of x-rays to pass through durchlaufen the tissue of the body. Therefore the body tissue or the organs which contains iodine-based or barium compounds have a dark appearance on x-ray or CT images.

When is oral contrast media applied? Oral contrast gets swallowed or administered jemandem etw. verabreichen by mouth one or two hours before the examination. It enhances x-ray and CT images of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including pharynx, esophagus, stomach der Magen , the small intestine der Dünndarm , and the large intestine Dickdarm (colon). In the majority of cases barium-sulfate is applied, in some situations, iodine-based contrast material is substituted ersetzt for barium-sulfate contrast material.

When is rectal contrast media applied? To perform exams of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract (colon and rectum) the contrast media need to be administered by enema (rectally) to achieve a reasonable contrast in x-ray and CT images. The media used are barium-sulfate compounds (mostly) or iodine-based contrast materials.

When is intravenous contrast media (iodine-based and gadolinium-based) applied? To enhance the contrast of MRI pictures, Gadolinium is frequently injected into a vein. Iodine-based contrast media are intravenously injected for x-ray and CT images. Intravenous injections of contrast media are typically applied to examine:

arteries and veins, including vessels Gefäße in the brain, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis das Becken and legs; internal organs such as heart, lung, liver, adrenal glands die Drüsen , kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, uterus, bladder or the central nervous system including the brain; the gastrointestinal tract like the stomach, small intestine and large intestine; soft tissues of the body, including the muscles, fat, and skin; breast and its internal glands. Is there any special preparation ahead for the patient, if an imaging procedure with contrast material is applied? There are not many complications or side-effects accompanying jemanden begleiten contrast media applications. However, some patients show allergic reactions or adverse reaction, which may pose etwas darstellen slight gering, leicht risks for the treatment. Patients should tell their physicians if they

are allergic to contrast materials, food, drugs, dyes, preservatives Konservierungsstoffe , or animals; are diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid die Schilddrüse problems, or sickle cell anemia; have a history of asthma and hay fever der Heuschnupfen ; take medications, including herbal pflanzlich supplements der Zusatz ; suffered from recent illnesses, surgeries, or other medical conditions. In these cases examiners will provide specific instructions on how the patient is prepared for the examination.

Bibliography 1. Thomsen HS, Muller RN, Mattrey R F: Trends in Contrast Media. Berlin Heidelberg 1999. 2. www.acr.org 3. http://dict.leo.org 4. www.dict.cc 5. www.webster-dictionary.org

EXERCISE: 1. In case a patient receives iodine-based contrast, which questions should the med. tech. ask? a) Are you allergic to chocolate? b) Are you allergic to shellfish? c) Are you allergic to cereals?

2. If a patient gets prepared for a barium enema, what would you tell him? a) The procedure will last 4 hours b) The patient may have a glass of milk the morning of the examination c) To follow an all-liquid diet beginning the morning of the procedure

3. Large amounts of contrast medium _________________ diuresis: a) does not affect the rate of b) decreases c) increases

Die Autorin: Carmen Lobitz mail@lobitz-seminare.de www.lobitz-seminare.de Carmen Lobitz ist freie Trainerin, Lehrerin und MTA. Sie gründete 1998 in Berlin lobitz seminare, die u.a. Englischseminare für Health Professionals anbieten.

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Lösung für Exercise:

Answer: 1. b) Answer: 2. c) Answer: 3. c)

What are contrast materials and which are available?

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