JohnHill999
Well-known member
Did most people here have an MRI with contrast or without ? I had mine without, and was wondering whether this may have caused something to be missed.
MRI With or Without Contrast: Experience?
- Thread starter JohnHill999
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BarbiePetals
Well-known member
I had mine with contrast. I think the doctor said more shows up but I could be wrong. That was almost 2 years ago so my memory is a little fuzzy. Don't worry though, if something is wrong they will know.
The only difference in using contrast and not using contrast is....Lets say if you were a MS patient (which you are not 
) ), but if you were, using contrast would make lesions that were active glow. The inactive lesions would not glow. Its a tool for neuros to use so they can see what lesions are causing the current MS attack or symptoms. So... if you dont have contrast your lesions would have still shown up, but the active ones would not glow, but lesions would still show if you had them. I had my MRI without contrast. They ordered it originally but I told them I was allergic to contrast because I dont like to have crap like that injected into my system 
I asked my neuro if the MRI could have missed anything since I didnt have the contrast and he said "no", and gave me the explanation as stated above.Hope that makes sense.Take careRobynn )
) ), but if you were, using contrast would make lesions that were active glow. The inactive lesions would not glow. Its a tool for neuros to use so they can see what lesions are causing the current MS attack or symptoms. So... if you dont have contrast your lesions would have still shown up, but the active ones would not glow, but lesions would still show if you had them. I had my MRI without contrast. They ordered it originally but I told them I was allergic to contrast because I dont like to have crap like that injected into my system I asked my neuro if the MRI could have missed anything since I didnt have the contrast and he said "no", and gave me the explanation as stated above.Hope that makes sense.Take careRobynn )kschoenhaut
Well-known member
Contrast enhances anomalies seen in non contrast scans. So if the non contrast scan is normal there is no need for contrast. Also gadolinium is only administered if the radiologist or the doctor asks for it, it may also have pretty nasty side effects albeit rare.