mike RT

Consent is not required , Check with your facilities polocy and procedures. Patients should be screened to insure that the possibility of a reaction or injury is present. The screening process also has the added benefit of patient education about the procedure.

I have attached 2 journal articles that will hopefully answer your question about multiple myeloma and contrast media. Multiple myeloma is not a direct contraindication but, these patients often have some renal imparement. http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/183/2/519.pdf http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/15/3/301.pdf If your patients are at risk of contrast induced nepropathy (CIN) this article may be of help: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/354/26/2773.pdf This is the premedication regime that the radiologists @ my facility use for patients with prior contrast media reactions: http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/15/3/301.pdf Americal College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines for MRI Contrast (gadolinium) safety: http://www.acr.org/SecondaryMainMenuCategories/quality_safety/MRSafety/recommendations_gadolinium-based.aspx ACR guidelines on Iodinated contrast media: http://www.acr.org/SecondaryMainMenuCategories/quality_safety/contrast_manual.aspx I hope this helps - Its all about the patient Mike

most radiology departments should have screening forms for both MR and CT. with CT you should be concerened with BUN/CREAT, prior allergic reactions to contrast, multiple myeloma, diabetes treated with any med containing METFORMIN, asthma, some screen for sickle cell. MRI is an entirely different subject - the magnetic field can reak havoc with many implanted divices- pace makers, defibulators, neurostimulators and aneurysm clips not to mention the occasional forign body, BUN/CREAT and GFR are concerns then Gadolinium is used (google: nephrogenic systemic fibrosis/nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy) Imaging is not an invasive prodedure, aside from interventional radiology - consent for the injection should be part of the screening forms used by the imaging department - for further information on contrast safety visit the ACR (American College of Radiology) web site

As a radiologic technologist for over 22 years I have found radiologic technology a very rewarding career choice. Having a wife who is a nurse (BSN) I feel that a RN degree will get you further as your career advances. Nursing affords many more opportunities - my wife started as a med surg nurse,then moved to long term care, teaching, occupational health and recently moved into case management for a large insurance firm. I on the other hand advanced quickly to cheif technologist in CT but recently moved out of the field and into health care admin. Health care needs more nurses than radiologic technologists - my suggestion get your BSN. Just my