Has the contrast used in an MRI caused anyone to have kidney damage?

I don't know what your GFR is. I have some kidney disease (technically stage 3, but stage 2 is actually normal for my age) with GFR's ranging from 36 to 51. My nephrologist does not want me to do any IV contrast.

There is a new technology to check for breast cancer (I just read about it, sorry cannot recall what it is). Self examination or examination by a provider can also be very useful.

If your kidneys are okay it may be fine though.

The gadiolium..Spelled? Is dye they use in mri of breasts. It lights up breast cancer. It is not good to use when people have muscular scoliosis. All I know is I had ILC 11mm in left breast and mammo did not show it. And ultrasound missed it. I luckily felt it. I had lumpectomy and no radiation .margins clear and lymph nodes clear. No hormone blocker for five years either. I also prior to breast cancer had small endometrial cancer again I had pelvic ultrasound after back mri said I had thickened endometrial lining 7mm. My cancer was small but dr. Said take ovaries uterus and all. I am 74. You have to be your own advocate. My surgeon said ILC of breast does not show up on mammo. It is like cobwebs webs. So no more mammos for me only mris and ultrasound. Yes the dye is bad but there is nothing else at this point.

Lobular forms chains rather than masses so it is harder to detect.

Here is an article on the new screening technology that I saw the other day. It is more effective for dense breasts, apparently. Talker News (can't post link due to ads). This is not available yet.

By James Gamble via SWNS

A ground-breaking new imaging technique could soon offer more accurate and less invasive breast cancer diagnoses.

The innovative screening technique called a low-dose positron emission mammography (PEM), returned far fewer false-positive results than MRI scans and is thought to be less uncomfortable than mammogram screening.

Mammograms also often fail to deliver accurate diagnoses in women with high breast density - a problem that doesn't occur for PEM scans.

And in returning fewer false-positive results, PEMs could save health services like the NHS millions by reducing unnecessary operations and treatments.

Wow! Thank you for that information. I’m going to see if it is available !

@ritebtripp I don't think it is. I hope your kidneys are okay for contrast.

My cancer was found with a clinical manual exam!

I have kidney disease 3B, and breast cancer. I've had numerous scans with dye contrast for the cancer but my oncologist tested the kidneys before each, and then my nephrologist had to agree that I could do it. In most cases, you can have an IV hydration before the dye is injected. It adds time, and get a blanket as "room-temperature" infusion can be chilling to the body. But I think worth it, as it protects the kidneys. The other alternatives mentioned here sound useful as well.

I love the idea of getting IV hydration if by I decide to get the MRI. Thank you so much!!!

Thank you kstar! I appreciate each of you responding and sharing your experience.

You are very welcome!

Thanks for that tip! Had no idea you could get IV hydration to lessen the effects of the contrast. The PEM mammo sounds interesting also I wonder if that uses any radioactive components? I do know that MRI is really the only imaging in use today that shows ILC with any relability at all. Regular mammo, even 3d, and US are pretty useless for ILC. I really wish breast doctors would explain BEFORE we all get diagnosed.... I was told for years that 3d mammo + US would catch anything early. Not true.