› Forums › General Melanoma Community › No contrast with CT scans
- This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by
scalp MM 2014.
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- March 12, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Hi Everyone,
First and formost thank you all for the valuable information you share .
I am allergic to contrast. My doctor orders CT scans for me "without " contrast. I am worried that the radiologist does not get a "clear" picture if I have any tumors or swollen nodes.
Should I be worried or can radiologists still determine if there are tumors/swollen nodes "without" contrast on my scans. I appreciate any opinion you can give me.
Thanks
- Replies
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- March 12, 2015 at 4:40 pm
I thought from having heard several people waiting for scans there are several types of contrast they can use. The typical is iodine which I guess you are allergic to. Maybe others would know but I thought there are some others you can ask about. Also there is the drink which I do remember a lady having to get a different type than mine because of stomach issues it would cause. Typically if I have a ct they have me do both the drink and contrast.
They do both non contrast and contrast for me. They told me they can see things in the non contrast they may not see in the contrast and vice versa. Both gives them a more complete picture. However sometimes they only did the non contrast because the doc said that would be enough to show what he is looking for.
So I would ask about the other contrasts and they may have something you can take.
Artie
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- March 12, 2015 at 6:15 pm
During my last CT scan, they had a problem with the Iv contrast and it missed my vein. Since I had already had an MRI with contrast that day, they decided it would be dangerout for my kidneys to have a third dose of contrast. The radiologist said that she thought that the CT without contrast would be sufficient because the only thing they would potentially miss would be if the cancer went to the liver.
I had another CT with and without contrast the next week – it seemed to be that if the cancer went to my liver it would be something I would want to have addressed.
Maybe you have to go to a higher level radiology center to get the care you need. Scans do not protect us from cancer, they just alert us sooner that something is going on, hopefully before it is too late to do anything about it.
Best of luck.
Mary
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- March 12, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Good day to you,
I too have allergy to contrast dye (short of breath). I have had several CT scans in past with contrast after I was premedicated with Prednisone and Benadryl. No allergic symptoms during scans. My Doctor called the Imaging Center to get their recommended premedication dosing. I don't know if your allergy would be the same situation, just thought I would share my experiences. Hoping all clear scans for you with or without the contrast.
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- March 12, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Good day to you,
I too have allergy to contrast dye (short of breath). I have had several CT scans in past with contrast after I was premedicated with Prednisone and Benadryl. No allergic symptoms during scans. My Doctor called the Imaging Center to get their recommended premedication dosing. I don't know if your allergy would be the same situation, just thought I would share my experiences. Hoping all clear scans for you with or without the contrast.
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- March 12, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Good day to you,
I too have allergy to contrast dye (short of breath). I have had several CT scans in past with contrast after I was premedicated with Prednisone and Benadryl. No allergic symptoms during scans. My Doctor called the Imaging Center to get their recommended premedication dosing. I don't know if your allergy would be the same situation, just thought I would share my experiences. Hoping all clear scans for you with or without the contrast.
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- March 12, 2015 at 6:15 pm
During my last CT scan, they had a problem with the Iv contrast and it missed my vein. Since I had already had an MRI with contrast that day, they decided it would be dangerout for my kidneys to have a third dose of contrast. The radiologist said that she thought that the CT without contrast would be sufficient because the only thing they would potentially miss would be if the cancer went to the liver.
I had another CT with and without contrast the next week – it seemed to be that if the cancer went to my liver it would be something I would want to have addressed.
Maybe you have to go to a higher level radiology center to get the care you need. Scans do not protect us from cancer, they just alert us sooner that something is going on, hopefully before it is too late to do anything about it.
Best of luck.
Mary
-
- March 12, 2015 at 6:15 pm
During my last CT scan, they had a problem with the Iv contrast and it missed my vein. Since I had already had an MRI with contrast that day, they decided it would be dangerout for my kidneys to have a third dose of contrast. The radiologist said that she thought that the CT without contrast would be sufficient because the only thing they would potentially miss would be if the cancer went to the liver.
I had another CT with and without contrast the next week – it seemed to be that if the cancer went to my liver it would be something I would want to have addressed.
Maybe you have to go to a higher level radiology center to get the care you need. Scans do not protect us from cancer, they just alert us sooner that something is going on, hopefully before it is too late to do anything about it.
Best of luck.
Mary
-
- March 12, 2015 at 4:40 pm
I thought from having heard several people waiting for scans there are several types of contrast they can use. The typical is iodine which I guess you are allergic to. Maybe others would know but I thought there are some others you can ask about. Also there is the drink which I do remember a lady having to get a different type than mine because of stomach issues it would cause. Typically if I have a ct they have me do both the drink and contrast.
They do both non contrast and contrast for me. They told me they can see things in the non contrast they may not see in the contrast and vice versa. Both gives them a more complete picture. However sometimes they only did the non contrast because the doc said that would be enough to show what he is looking for.
So I would ask about the other contrasts and they may have something you can take.
Artie
-
- March 12, 2015 at 4:40 pm
I thought from having heard several people waiting for scans there are several types of contrast they can use. The typical is iodine which I guess you are allergic to. Maybe others would know but I thought there are some others you can ask about. Also there is the drink which I do remember a lady having to get a different type than mine because of stomach issues it would cause. Typically if I have a ct they have me do both the drink and contrast.
They do both non contrast and contrast for me. They told me they can see things in the non contrast they may not see in the contrast and vice versa. Both gives them a more complete picture. However sometimes they only did the non contrast because the doc said that would be enough to show what he is looking for.
So I would ask about the other contrasts and they may have something you can take.
Artie
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