Multiple Myeloma? Over 60? Many questions.

[-Midget-]

At the beginning of the month, I had a CT with contrast, so the doctor could get a look at my inner ear. While he was filling out the order for it, he was talking to himself mumbled something about multiple myeloma, and me not having it, and me not being over 60 years old. When I got home I asked around, and looked it up, and figured out it was a type of cancer. Would this be a contradicition for having a CT? Also, why does it matter if I was over 60? Then when I got to Radiology, the tech had me sign the consent for the contrast, and it said if I was diabetic, the nurse needed to be paged before adminstering. Why? I'm not diabetic, just curious. During this whole time, I only saw the tech. What does the Radiology Nurse do? What kind of procedures? Is contrast used in all CTs?

Also, while wondering through the hopsital since I was there all day, I passed this one wing that said "Interventional Radiology." What happens there?

[dianah, ASN]

at the beginning of the month, i had a ct with contrast, so the doctor could get a look at my inner ear. while he was filling out the order for it, he was talking to himself mumbled something about multiple myeloma, and me not having it, and me not being over 60 years old. when i got home i asked around, and looked it up, and figured out it was a type of cancer. would this be a contradicition for having a ct? ppl with multiple myeloma have a higher risk of developing post-contrast nephropathy (permanent damage to the kidneys after receiving iodine contrast).

also, why does it matter if i was over 60? same reasoning, although the age "cut-off" varies depending on which radiologist you talk to. there is increased risk of kidney damage for the "elderly" who receive iodine contrast.

then when i got to radiology, the tech had me sign the consent for the contrast, and it said if i was diabetic, the nurse needed to be paged before adminstering. why? i'm not diabetic, just curious. once again, same reasoning: diabetics are higher risk for developing post-contrast nephropathy.

is contrast used in all cts? no, but it is very useful for certain ct scans, depending on what the mds are looking for when they order the ct. ct of the chest, for example: most are scanned once without contrast, and then once more with the contrast infusing. the radiologist then reads the two, comparing the before-contrast images with the after-contrast images. some disease processes show up with the contrast and not without it.

during this whole time, i only saw the tech. what does the radiology nurse do? what kind of procedures? i'm afraid there's not enough time in the day to tell all the radiology nurse does, lol! it depends on the department and how it's structured. we started all the out-pt ct and ivp ivs and monitored the contrast injections. also helped with : angiograms, ct- or ultrasound-guided drainages and biopsies, placement of nephrostomy tubes, hepatic chemo-embolizations, tipps procedures, transjugular liver biopsies, . . . i don't have time to list them all! lots of pt education pre and post procedure, and moderate sedation administration and monitoring. we even scrubbed in to assist the mds.

also, while wondering through the hopsital since i was there all day, i passed this one wing that said "interventional radiology." what happens there? see above. any interventional procedure (myelogram, discogram, drainages, biopsies, embolizations, thrombolysis, angiograms, stent placements . . etc etc!!).

pm me if you have any questions. :) -- d