During your Radiotherapy CT or MRI examination, you have experienced a reaction to the dye which was injected.
Millions of imaging studies are performed with the use of contrast media (dye) each year. These are used to increase the amount of information we can obtain about your body during your planning scan.
What is a contrast reaction?
Like all medicines, there is a small chance that you may develop an adverse (allergic) reaction to the dye that you have been given. This is rare and for most people it will be a mild reaction which requires no treatment. However, for some people, it can be more severe. Either way, the radiographers will ensure that you have received the recommended treatment.
What to do after a contrast reaction
- If you have been given medicine to counteract the effects of the reaction, then you should not drive yourself home as you may feel drowsy.
- You should have someone with you for the next 24 hours to help you if you feel unwell.
- You should be aware that, in a very small number of cases, the reaction may get worse again after a few hours. If you notice that your symptoms come back or get worse then you should seek medical advice.
- You should expect a follow-up telephone call within 24 hours of it happening.
When should I contact you?
If you develop difficulty breathing or sudden shortness of breath
Then call 999 (do NOT go to your GP).
If your symptoms get worse or come back within a 48 hour period then you should immediately get in touch as follows:
Speak to any of the Radiographer
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, please phone and ask to speak to any of the Radiographers.
At all other times
Contact either an Emergency Doctor (Walk-in Centre or A&E) or the NHS Helpline
(online: 111.nhs.uk or call: 111 from a landline or mobile).
Be sure to take this leaflet with you if you are asked to see a medical professional.
What happens if I need contrast again?
Different dyes are used for different types of examinations. Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust will have added an alert to your records indicating the dye you are allergic to.
If you receive an appointment for an examination with dye, and the appointment is outside Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, then we would advise you to ring that department before your appointment. This is so that the staff can gain more information about your allergy.
The decision will then be made by the supervising doctor as to whether you need dye again, or if the test is better performed without.
Important
If you attend a radiology department out of the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust for future tests take this leaflet with you (A PDF of this leaflet can be downloaded at the top of this page).
On arrival, please tell your radiographer that you have had a previous reaction to contrast and the type of reaction you had.