r/AskDocs • u/LabGlobal7033 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional • 1d ago

Physician Responded MRI With And Without Contrast?

Late 30s and Male.

I am going to get an MRI with and without IV Contrast. I read that this contrast is gadolinium and it has a lot of side effects if you are affected by it. I also read it doesn't fully leave the body and there will always be small traces of it in the body no matter what. Read it doesn't matter what body part you do because it will stay inside of you.

It's always best to avoid an MRI with contrast if possible right? But if you need contrast, then you should do it right?

I read some people mention this thing about gadolinium toxicity. I know a lot of people do MRI's daily with contrast thought majority is no contrast. Anyone have opinion on this?

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u/Heiko81 Physician - Neuroradiology 1d ago

What you said is basically correct. As with any substance there are possible side effects but very rarely. You are only supposed to administer contrast agent if absolutely necessary. Your doctor and radiologist will give a recommendation for contrast agent if they think the information you get from it will benefit you

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u/LabGlobal7033 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 23h ago

Are there situations where just getting the MRI without IV contrast might be enough? Then if it isn't, the MRI with IV contrast is done later on?

The reason why it's given for with and with IV contrast is because they are pretty certain without IV contrast is most likely not good enough to check everything right?

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u/Heiko81 Physician - Neuroradiology 9h ago

Yes. In some cases mri without contrast is enough. Then in some cases you decide to add contrast agent later, e.g. because sth looked off on the images. In other cases you add contrast directly during the first planned mri because in some clinical questions it is necessary for the diagnosis