By the way, doctor: Are MRI contrast agents harmful?

Published: March, 2010

Q. Do the contrast agents used with MRI scans have side effects? I have had several MRIs and am wondering if there's reason to be worried.

A. Not all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans require contrast agents, but a contrast agent is sometimes used to show blood vessels or the amount of blood flowing to a particular structure.

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