Are The Risks Of Drugs That Enhance Imaging Tests Overblown?
One of the most widely used drugs in the world isn't really a drug, at least not in the usual sense.
It's more like a dye.
Physicians call this drug "contrast," shorthand for contrast agent.
Contrast agents are chemical compounds that doctors use to improve the quality of an imaging test. In the emergency room, where I work, contrast is most commonly given intravenously during a CT scan.
Around 80 million CT scans are performed annually in the U.S., and the majority are done with contrast.
Most contrast agents I use contain iodine, which can block X-rays. This effect causes parts of an image to light up, which significantly enhances doctors' ability to detect things like tumors, certain kinds of infections and blood clots.
One thing about contrast agents
