CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus added: “What we know is that gadolinium, this dye that’s used, can actually deposit in tissue, that’s known now. What we don’t know is that it is actually associated with symptoms in patients.
“These are critical tests. I don’t want to worry initially, without real substantive data, to actually stress people out.”
Despite their battle, Norris’ legal team terminated the claim against gadolinium manufacturer Bracco Imaging in 2020, according to Radiology Business, with no settlement reached.
In a statement, the business stated that it “takes patient safety very seriously and stands behind the safety of all of its products,” referring especially to two of its gadolinium-based contrast agents.
ProHance and MultiHance are two of these that are utilized in central nervous system MRIs to enhance the visualization of brain, spin, and other tissue abnormalities.
According to the NHS, MRI scans may be performed on nearly any part of the body, and the findings can be used to determine the efficacy of prior therapies as well as to plan new ones.
You lie on a flat bed that has been moved into the scanner to undergo an MRI scan. You will either be placed head first or feet first in the scanner, depending on which portion of your body is being scanned.
The scanner will tap loudly at specific points during the scan. This is the process of turning on and off the electric current in the scanner coils. Depending on the size of the area being scanned and the number of photos captured, the scan can take anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes.
It’s interesting to note that the NHS cautions that contrast dye may have adverse consequences like:
- Feeling or being sick
- A skin rash
- A headache
- Dizziness.
It continues by explaining that although they usually don’t persist long, people who have kidney illness are susceptible to tissue and organ damage from the dye. A blood test should be performed in advance as a precaution to assess kidney function and evaluate if the scan can proceed safely.
