dear hoppitt or anyone else expert in this field, -

why is iodine used in ct scans as an injection prior to the scan?
what is the function of the iodine used?
is the iodine injected radioactive?

for scanning the lungs, how does ct scanning compare to mri scanning in terms of -

- safety and level of disruption of the body?
- accuracy and detail of information gleaned?

thank you.

Iodine is used for contrast -- so a better picture is achieved.

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Dear Moderator Lisa Annan,

The contrast material used for MRI does not contain iodine.

Iodine is used for better contrast to achieve a better picture. (Anna, I don't think the iodine that is injected is radioactive - but I'm sure Hoppitt will know...or this can likely be answered by a google search.)

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Hi Anna,

See http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/69/17254 and http://www.spine-inc.com/glossary/c/ct-scan.html and http://health.allrefer.com/health/ct-risks.html

Dear Lisa you mentioned about this site.

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/69/17254

In this web site too it is mentioned "Common contrast material substances include iodine, barium, and gadolinium." To my knowledge "Gadolinium" used for MRI does not contain Iodine. I don't know the exact position. I have poor knowledge.

Being a student of homeopathy, I also searched in google and in most of the sites it is intimated that iodine is not present in contrast material which is used for MRI.

http://www.quintemri.com/whatis.html
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content...mri_safety.htm
http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/74/18544
http://www.kthv.com/off-camera/take_heart/default.asp
]



[ 21. November 2003, 00:55: Message edited by: Prof. Raza Hussain ]

__________________
Muhammad Raza Hussain<br />Z.C Post Graudate College

Gadolinium is an element (no 64). When used in MRI it is complexed with an octadentate ligand and a water molicule. the ligand contains carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen but no iodine.

Exactly, MRI is an alternative scan procedure to adopt for a patient who is allergic to iodine.

Anna was asking about CT scans. I believe radioiodine is used in thyroid problems or bone scans.