CT scan iodine query

[bluejemima]

Hi. My cardiologist has booked me in for a CT cardio scan to rule out heart disease. This uses iodine based dye to show up the arteries. My question is, would that type of iodine (guessing it's a compound) impact my thyroid at all? I have asked the scan department and they've asked that I contact the cardio dept, but not sure they'll get back to me quick enough as my scan's tomorrow! I only got the cardio letter yesterday, hence researching madly now.

[humanbean]

This is just an n=1 anecdote...

I've had iodine contrast for scans before and I'm hypothyroid, but I've never had a problem after the event with the iodine (or anything else).

[Framboise]

I have had a CT scan with iodine contrast and been fine. I asked how it would impact my thyroid but they didn't seem to know. I decided to go ahead because I felt the need for the scan with iodine was greater than the risk of the iodine. So for me it was worth it.

However, if you need repeat scans and they want to use iodine again, just check that it really is necessary. I had annual scans for a few years, but queried the need for iodine at the second one when they mentioned it. The nurse checked for me, and the answer came back that I didn't need it again because they now knew exactly what they were looking at.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

I was booked in for a CT with iodine and I mentioned my worry at reception as I had autoimmune thyroid disease and they queried it for me.

They switched me to MRI with gadolinium contrast instead. The radiologist said my notes stated iodine contrast contra indicated by poorly managed hypothyroidism and thyroiditis.

They also said scans could be done without contrast too. It just makes the interpretation more challenging.

Hope it goes well for you, let us know what happens on the day 🌱

[bluejemima]

Thanks all, your replies are useful! Hospital didn't fit in a call back to me today, so I'll head to the appointment tomorrow and see if anyone there can advise.

[snow22]

if you look at related posts below or on side you will find a lot of info as many thyroid patients are worried about this. I have a strong response to caffeine and found it did cause sleep issues and TSH went from around 4 to 0.7. There are articles online about it and links to some on old posts on here one written by France92. You will see as above some are ok others not.

[thyreoidea]

I had a CT scan last year and queried the drink and the dye they were going to use after reading about the drink and the thyroid, after telling them in advance of my hypothyroidism they said they would skip the drink and only do the contrast dye infusion. I was worried about that too but then thought the scan was more important than a blip in my hypothyroidism.

Strangely enough when they said the dye was likely to cause a sensation of wetting oneself and a possible all over body feeling when it starts, I had none of these and felt nothing to the extent I had to ask them on completion of the very short duration Scan whether they had put the needle in a vein or my arm as I heard the machine start but felt absolutely nothing, I was on my back with my arms above my head so could see nothing either. I had no after effects at all.

I would take some water with you al though they did supply me with 2 cups of it to keep me hydrated beforehand after having the cannula fitted and sitting in the waiting room for my turn, all the patients waiting was given water, I think the key is to drink enough water afterwards also to flush the dye out of your system, don't go overboard but read the info they give you.

P.S I was concerned about my low blood count and possible effect on my kidneys due to another serious condition and they got an actual senior nurse to check my levels on my records to put my mind at ease.