What Student Need to Know about Radiographic Contrast Media Reactions In Radio Diagnosis

Contrast materials, also called contrast agents or contrast media, are used to improve pictures of the inside of the body produced by xrays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and ultrasound. Often, contrast materials allow the radiologist to distinguish normal from abnormal conditions. Contrast materials are not dyes that permanently discolor internal organs. They are substances that temporarily change the way xrays or other imaging tools interact with the body. When introduced into the body prior to an imaging exam, contrast materials make certain structures or tissues in the body appear different on the images than they would if no contrast material had been administered. Contrast materials help distinguish or contrast selected areas of the body from surrounding tissue. By improving the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels or tissues, contrast materials help physicians diagnose medical conditions. Contrast materials enter the body in one of three ways.