MRI and CT-Scans Can Result in Kidney Damage and Cancer Respectively

Tags: C-Scans 29,000 Cancers/yr, MRI Gadolinium Causes Kidney Failure and Organ Fibrosis

CT-Scans Causes 29,000 Cancers a Year By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Doctors are exploring ways to reduce the amount of radiation exposure from medical imaging tests in light of renewed concerns about the cancer risk, according to research presented at a radiology conference this week.

Medical radiation from exams such as CTs, or computed tomography, causes 29,000 new cancers a year, a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed in December. An accompanying article found that the scans may expose people to four times as much radiation as previously estimated. TheFood and Drug Administration is considering safeguards for CT scanners and other imaging machines.

"It's a very serious issue," says radiologist Sobhi Abadi of McGill University in Montreal, who presented his research Tuesday at a meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society in San Diego. ... http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-05-radiation05_st_N.htm

Kidney Failure and Fibrosis of Other Organs and Sometimes Seen Externally with Gadolinium Contrast Agent Use with MRI Scans

This problem has been known for at least several years. About 5 years ago, I was horrified to hear that researchers routinely were studying their children brain responses with MRI brain scans using these contrast agents after nothing finding out that these were very large atoms which might have bad side-effects. I ran many nuclear Magnetic scans of molecules using this type of agent and took care not to get it on my skin.

Jim Kawakami, May 4, 2010, http://http://jimboguy.blogspot.com

Gadolinium is a chemical element used in image contrast agents during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) procedures. Once injected, gadolinium-based contrast agents accumulate in abnormal tissues of the brain and body. This accumulation provides a greater contrast between normal and abnormal tissues, allowing doctors to better locate uncommon cell growths and tumors. Recently this drug has come under scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration due to gadolinium side effects such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis / nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NSF/NFD).

FDA Black Box Warning for Gadolinium

In May, 2007 the Food and Drug Administration demanded that manufacturers of gadolinium-based contrast agents include “black box warnings” and extensive warning information in the drugs’ literature and packaging. These warnings were a result of well-documented cases linking nephrogenic systemic fibrosis / nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NSF/NFD) to gadolinium exposure patients who suffer from severe kidney disorders and have been exposed to gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis / Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NSF/NFD)

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD) is a disease-causing fibrosis of the skin and connective tissues. Sufferers may experience thickening of the skin, and fibrosis may develop in the diaphragm, thigh muscles, lower abdomen and lung vessels. Over time the debilitating effects of the disease worsen and sometimes cause death. ... http://www.levinsimeskaisergornick.com/gadolinium.html