Scans without contrast

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone knows how accurate a CT scan is if you cannot handle drinking the dye or getting the i.v.? 

On 2/18/2009 HD Mom wrote:

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone knows how accurate a CT scan is if you cannot handle drinking the dye or getting the i.v.? 

 Hello,

I have regular CT scans for renal cell carcinoma recurrence and to look for signs of tiny lung lesions becoming aggressive. I had a reaction to the dye after the first scan, the next scan without the dye was dubious because they could not compare it to the previous one. However, they are now able to compare subsequent no dye scans to the previous one looking for signs of change. So I presume that if the scan is for surveillance purposes then the dye is not important. If the scan is for diagnosing then the dye would give a clearer image but I'm certain they wouldn't do it without the dye if they were unable to make a diagnosis from the images. To cut a long story short, trust them, they know what they are doing. 

Good luck

Philip

Thank you for your response.   My son had 6 months ABVD for stage 3B.  Half way through his treatments he started getting serve anticipatory nausea.  He vomitted all day during chem, right from the time he got out of bed until he went back to bed after treatment.  Unfortunately, he suffered from the same anticipatory naseau and vomitting when he went for his double contrast CT scan last week.  I am so worried that they will not get an accurate reading.  His last scan showed that their may still be activiity.  It is next to impossible getting a PET scan in Ontario.

 Thanks again for your response.

I have never had a scan without iv contrast so I assume that the radiologist would not be able to get a really good reading without it.  I have had no side effects from the contrast.  I have had 4 in the last 7 months so I do worry about the radiation exposure but have had no problems so far.  I suppose it depends on what the Scan is for as to whether you get the iv contrast or have to drink the dye.  You'll be there alot longer if you have to drink.  Since I got the iv for a chest scan, I only had a little metal taste at the back of my throat and I had an immediate urge to urinate but it went away very quickly.

Good luck to you and I hope you get good results.

Gail R.

Sherrills Ford, NC 

On 2/19/2009 HD Mom wrote:

Thank you for your response.   My son had 6 months ABVD for stage 3B.  Half way through his treatments he started getting serve anticipatory nausea.  He vomitted all day during chem, right from the time he got out of bed until he went back to bed after treatment.  Unfortunately, he suffered from the same anticipatory naseau and vomitting when he went for his double contrast CT scan last week.  I am so worried that they will not get an accurate reading.  His last scan showed that their may still be activiity.  It is next to impossible getting a PET scan in Ontario.

 Thanks again for your response

Hello again,

I wish your son well and hope things work out for him. Don't be shy to ask his doctors anything you need to know about his treatment and side effects or even dyless CT scans. Don't feel bad about asking anything, doctors always have the best interest of the patient at heart.

I live in England and I ask my Oncologist or a member of his staff to explain to me in simple terms everything I feel I need to know about my condition and treatment and management. I even asked my surgeon to show me exactly what he was going to be doing for the estimated 6 hours it would take to cut out my kidney with a massive 23cm lump on it. He took great pride in showing me over a cup of tea exactly how he would free me of the monster (his words), which had displaced my stomach and flattened my spleen, without having to cut into my chest and how he would save my spleen. In the event he saved my spleen and the op was a total success and only took 5 hours and there was no need for a drain (which amazed my GP). My point in telling you this is that doctors like to explain complicated things to us mortals, it makes them feel good as well as us.

Once again I wish your son well.

Philip

Hello

I had bad reaction to the dye when I had my first CT scan with contrast.  My doctor instrudcted me to take APO-PREDNISONE and RAN-PANTOPRAZOLE before CT scan.  I don't have any reaction to the dye anymore.  Talk to your doctor.

Good luck

Joseph

Hi,

 Actually, it's not that he has a reaction to the dye, he gets nausea just going to the hospital and that makes it impossible for him to drink the dye.  As for the needle, same thing. 

Thanks for all of your responses.  They are greatly appreciated.

Different cancer but husband does not drink contrast when they are just doing chest CT. If they are doing abdomen with it, he drinks the contrast. Don't know if they ever do them without injection. They do make the contrast in different flavors...perhaps one of the other flavors might be easier for him to tolerate. Husband prefers berry if he gets to choose.

Do you use anti-emetics? I found even when husband was off chemo and only had to go to infusion center to have port flushed, he would tend towards nausea (the smells set him off). I started giving him a zofran before the visit and he was fine. Even though he was done taking them regularly, he still needed to take one to go back in there. CINV is more of an issue in men under 50 for some inexplicable reason.