View Full Version : MRI's - With Contrast or Without - Questions for the Yanks
Jim Roche
04-28-08, 07:48 AM
Due to published reports that that the Yanks are relying a great deal (or so it seems of late..(before Jorge's injury)) MRI's. (I have gone through four in the past 3 weeks, but, I digress).
Not to question the reasons FOR the MRI's, but, I hope that the symptoms voiced by the injured players (Jorge = Dead Arm & Shoulder) are being understood by Yankees Medical Staff and would tend to lean towards MRI's WITH Contrast (injected highlighting substance or dye to reveal damage more readily)as compared to those without Contrast.
I want Yankee injured players to get back on the field as soon as possible, but, first and foremost, I want them to be diagnosed correctly the 1st time ...everytime...
In Jorge's case... I have to wonder....
cupcollector99
04-28-08, 08:09 AM
My wife is a diagnostic physicist so I hear about this stuff all the time and it usualy bores me to tears. From what I remember, they need to do different types of contrast material for different types of tissue and studies and I believe they're all made with some sort of isotope and there is a risk associated with the use of this stuff. The risk is measured against the benefit of the diagnosis (It might make sense in some cases but not others). It might have made sense to do a study w/o the contrast at the time but maybe a more detailed follow-up with a contrast material would have been in order but I'm not in a position to say one way or another. Then again, a contrast agent might not even be something that works with this type of injury like it would with cancers for instance.
The shoulder area is pretty dense with muscle, tendons and cartlidge so it's probably trickier to get an accurate diagnosis. There are limits to what they can learn from these procedures and unless the problem is glaring, there is a very good chance that something was just missed. No matter what, the pride of Birmingham, Dr Andrews will figure it out.
I do agree that the Yankees and most sports franchises that invest millions in players should probably also invest in the best diagnostic measures to protect those investments.
Yankees1962
04-28-08, 08:23 AM
So Yankee players are not getting proper medical attention?
My wife is a diagnostic physicist so I hear about this stuff all the time and it usualy bores me to tears. From what I remember, they need to do different types of contrast material for different types of tissue and studies and I believe they're all made with some sort of isotope and there is a risk associated with the use of this stuff. The risk is measured against the benefit of the diagnosis (It might make sense in some cases but not others). It might have made sense to do a study w/o the contrast at the time but maybe a more detailed follow-up with a contrast material would have been in order but I'm not in a position to say one way or another. Then again, a contrast agent might not even be something that works with this type of injury like it would with cancers for instance.
The shoulder area is pretty dense with muscle, tendons and cartlidge so it's probably trickier to get an accurate diagnosis. There are limits to what they can learn from these procedures and unless the problem is glaring, there is a very good chance that something was just missed. No matter what, the pride of Birmingham, Dr Andrews will figure it out.
I do agree that the Yankees and most sports franchises that invest millions in players should probably also invest in the best diagnostic measures to protect those investments.
I at least hope Jorge gets to go to Dreamland BBQ while he's in Birmingham
Due to published reports that that the Yanks are relying a great deal (or so it seems of late..(before Jorge's injury)) MRI's. (I have gone through four in the past 3 weeks, but, I digress).
Not to question the reasons FOR the MRI's, but, I hope that the symptoms voiced by the injured players (Jorge = Dead Arm & Shoulder) are being understood by Yankees Medical Staff and would tend to lean towards MRI's WITH Contrast (injected highlighting substance or dye to reveal damage more readily)as compared to those without Contrast.
I want Yankee injured players to get back on the field as soon as possible, but, first and foremost, I want them to be diagnosed correctly the 1st time ...everytime...
In Jorge's case... I have to wonder....
Most MRI's don't need contrast. Contrast is usually used to enhance a suspected tumor or look at vascular structure. Labral tears are notoriously hard to pick up on an MRI.
PocketAces12
04-28-08, 09:46 AM
So Yankee players are not getting proper medical attention?
I say we start a charity drive. 50 cents a day will get neglected athletes the treatment that all humans deserve, lol.
Rastven
04-28-08, 10:28 AM
There are many available methods to give you "contrast" on an MRI and not all of them involve the injection of substances that can be dangerous in and of themselves.
I doubt the Yanks get bad care considering most work is done at the specialist hospitals in NYC.
Jim Roche
04-28-08, 11:19 AM
To All That Responded.... Thanks for the input... Your answers help me to understand some of the overall facts regarding W/contrast v. without contrast.
Just have to chalk this injury to Jorge as Bad Luck... nothing more... nothing less....
Contrast is used to study vessels not muscles or joints.
My brother got a series of MRI's on his shoulder when he was in chronic pain. He was pitching and had to shut it down (hasn't picked up a ball in a year). He got MRI's both without and with the dye, and it found nothing. But at the same time, he tested a positive 7/7 for some physical test that indicated that he may have a small tear in his labrum. Since then he's been feeling good enough to lift weights but he hasn't tested out the throwing so much. Point is, MRI's are only like 80% or less accurate. If the problem with Jorge persists and the MRI's continue to show nothing, he may need a scope to see what the machines are missing.
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