Lecture 6 - Scans and Radiology

Question 1

What are the risks of iodinated contrast?

Answer 1

Adverse reactions:
- N and V
- Hives/itching
- Anaphylaxis

Renal impairment - is a risk factor for kidney injury

Question 2

What are the advantages of MRIs?

Answer 2

Non-ionising
Anatomic detail
Can be more sensitive than CT in certain conditions

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of MRIs?

Answer 3

Some patients cannot have MRI (pacemaker, cochlear implant)
Can be noisy/claustrophobic and some patients cannot tolerate
More complicated than CT patients need to stay still
More costly

Question 4

Define nuclear medicine

Answer 4

Uses small amounts of radioactive material combined with a carrier molecule (radioactive)

Question 5

What are the uses of nuclear medicine?

Answer 5

Find disease at the earliest stages
target treatment to specific cells
monitor response to specific cells

Question 6

Name an example of MRI contrast

Answer 6

Gadolinium commonest