MRI with contrast medium in children | Contrast MRI – Is it dangerous?

MRI with contrast medium in children

Based on the latest findings that gadolinium may be deposited and accumulated in the brain, it should first be carefully considered whether contrast medium is really necessary in the examination, as the long-term consequences are not clear. So far, no health damage or consequences are known, but the administration of gadolinium should be avoided if it is not absolutely necessary. And especially in children, these indications must be strictly adhered to.

MRI with contrast medium during pregnancy

Unlike CT and X-rays, MRI does not use X-rays, which is why it can be used as a safe imaging tool during pregnancy. However, in early pregnancy it is not recommended to perform MRI in the first three months of pregnancy because it can damage the unborn child. There is no guideline for the use of gadolinium-containing contrast media in pregnancy, but harmful effects have been described because gadolinium penetrates the placental barrier.

Contrast media should therefore only be used in an emergency during pregnancy and if no other examination is available. Do not breastfeed for at least 24 hours after administration of contrast medium. MRI is often used to measure the diameter of the pelvis which the child must pass through at birth when pregnant with the child in the pelvic end position.

Procedure of an MRI with contrast medium

Before the examination, the patient is informed by the radiologist about possible complications and the creatinine level is checked, which indicates how good the kidney function is, since the contrast medium is excreted via the kidneys. As with a native MRI (without contrast medium), the patient must remove all metallic objects (piercings, jewelry, etc.) and possibly take off clothing if it has metallic parts (e.g. bras) that could interfere with the examination.

Then the patient is placed on a table and possibly coils are added to better visualize certain areas. The patient should not cross his or her legs or arms, as this can cause burns. During the examination the patient should not move and breathe evenly.

The patient will be given an emergency bell in case something unforeseen happens. For the administration of contrast medium a venous access must be available, which is placed directly before the examination. First, the sequences are run without contrast medium.

Then the examiner will inform the patient when contrast medium is administered. The contrast-agent-supported sequences are then prepared. After the examination, the brown bulb is removed. The average examination time is about 20 to 40 minutes.