“Why does CT contrast make you warm?”
My 18 year old son said he felt warm after CT contrast. Why does CT contrast make you warm?
3 Answers
RadiologistRadiology
Because of the iodine....
The exact mechanism for the heat sensation associated with contrast injection is not known, but it is thought to be related to the difference in the osmolarity of the contrast compared to blood. This sensation was worse in the early days of ionic contrast when the osmolarity of IV contrast was 1200 compared to a serum/blood osmolarity of 300. The current nonionic contrast agents have a more neutral osmolarity ranging from 300 to 600. The current nonionic contrast agents also have a much higher safety profile.
It causes vasodilatation in your skin, so your skin gets warmer due to the increased blood flow. It's the same thing as drinking alcohol.
