Constantine C. Brocoum, MD John D. Cameron, MD Matthew H. DiMasi, MD

Breast Imaging Suite
CIC Pillsbury
CIC Horseshoe Pond
CIC Epsom
Concord Hospital Campus
Pillsbury Building
248 Pleasant St., Suite 106
Concord, NH 03301
603.415.2902
Concord Hospital Campus
Pillsbury Building
248 Pleasant St., Suite 102
Concord, NH 03301
603.225.0425
Medical Offices at
Horseshoe Pond
60 Commercial St., Suite 101
Concord, NH 03301
603.415.9444
Concord Hospital Medical
Offices East
1990 Dover Road
Epsom, NH 03234
603.736.6235
www.concordimagingcenter.com
Constantine C. Brocoum, MD
John D. Cameron, MD
Matthew H. DiMasi, MD
Douglas K. Ewing, MD
James M. Fuller, MD
Mark A. Hadley, MD
David D. Hou, MD
Timothy J. McCormack, MD
Tad T. Renvyle, MD
Kevin Y. Rivera, MD
Corey Sides, MD
Joseph G. Venus, MD
Richard J. Waite, MD
D. Tyler Zapton, MD
What is X-ray dye?
X-ray dye, also known as contrast material or contrast medium (not a “dye” at all) is any internally administered substance
that has a different density from soft tissue on X-ray studies or CT scanning. Having a different density than soft tissues
means the X-ray interacts in such a way that provides “contrast” between adjacent structures. This allows the radiologist to
see anatomy more clearly.
Types of Contrast Include:
• Barium or water, used to make parts of the gastrointestinal tract visible on X-ray.
• Iodine in water, used for arthrography.
• Water-soluble iodine, used to make blood vessels visible; to demonstrate the inner structures of the urinary tract
(kidneys, ureters and bladder); and to outline joints (the spaces between two bones).
• Paramagnetic substances used in magnetic resonance imaging.
Allergies to Contrast
It is important to inform the technologist at the time of your examination or procedure if you have any history of reactions
or allergies to a contrast agent such as X-ray dye, or medications or substances such as latex.
Today there is a low incidence of reaction to contrast. However, the following factors have been identified as increasing the
risk for a contrast medium reaction:
• History of reaction to contrast agents
• Asthma or severe allergies
• Sickle cell anemia
• Multiple myeloma, renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus
Contrast reactions range from mild (nausea, peculiar taste in mouth) to severe (respiratory and/or cardiac arrest). Patients
with a history of contrast reaction can be pretreated prior to the procedure. Ask your doctor for more information.
At Concord Imaging Center, we use state-of-the-art “non-ionic” contrast media. This further reduces the risk of reaction for
our patients.