What are the side effects of ct contrast agents?

CT contrast agent is a drug used during CT examinations. It can enhance the accuracy of the examination, but it will also bring certain side effects to the body, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, etc. In severe cases, urticaria, shock, etc. may occur, and even death may occur. Therefore, an allergy test must be conducted before the examination to prevent severe adverse reactions.

1. The role of CT contrast agents

CT or MRI enhanced scanning is a scanning method after a certain dose of contrast agent is injected intravenously. The purpose of contrast agent enhancement is to enhance the contrast between lesions and blood vessels and surrounding tissues, so as to make it easier to find the lesions or show the range of the lesions more clearly. Enhanced scanning is very valuable for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lesions with poor blood supply, and also significantly improves the detection rate of lesions and the accuracy of diagnosis.

2. Are there any side effects of CT contrast agents?

CT iodine contrast agents have certain adverse reactions, such as gastrointestinal reactions, vomiting, urticaria, shock and even death. Most hospitals perform iodine contrast agent allergy tests, but as a product that has been used for decades, it is safe for clinical use. The proportion of serious adverse reactions, such as shock, is about one in a thousand, and the death rate due to shock is only one in ten thousand. Professor Li Kuncheng, a famous radiation expert, believes that strictly speaking, the adverse reactions to CT contrast agents are not allergic reactions, but "allergic-like reactions." Because allergic reactions have an "allergen", the allergic-like reaction to CT contrast agents has no allergen, but modern medicine cannot clearly explain the mechanism of its occurrence. Some people are fine when injected with small doses of CT contrast agents, but have adverse reactions when injected with large doses; some people have reactions when injected with small doses of contrast agents, but are fine when injected with large doses. People with different body types react differently, and this is not a true allergic reaction. In addition, patients with renal insufficiency should not undergo enhanced CT examinations.

Therefore, if you experience the above side effects after ingesting CT contrast agents, you should report it to your doctor promptly.