How should we manage patients with iodine allergy before they receive an iodinated contrast medium?

Both physicians and patients intensely use the term “iodine allergy”. This is indeed surprising, because it has been mentioned that this kind of allergy does not exist [1, 2]. Moreover, a recent article clearly shows that the term “iodine allergy” is inexact, and increases the risk for the acquisition of an adverse reaction induced by an iodinated contrast medium [3]. Therefore, to increase patients’ safety we would like to teach both physicians of different specialties, and patients by a comic (fig. 1-2-3).

Medical knowledge is rapidly increasing. Therefore, it is impossible for every physician to know everything. Even within a medical specialty, knowledge is so balky that it is difficult to get an overview. Currently, radiological examinations are important procedures in the medical diagnostic process. Moreover, radiological examinations are at the interface of several medical disciplines. Unfortunately, non-radiologists are not familiar with important background facts around of a radiological examination. So, we like to introduce an Educational Comic to improve knowledge in all medical disciplines in an...

All physicians are always busy. Actually, very busy. So busy that they do not have time enough to read (whole) articles in professional journals. This circumstance may lead to the fact that they could probably miss interesting information. Okay. How can we solve the problem? We had the idea to wrap the essentials into a medical comic, because radiologists as well as physicians of other disciplines are trained to process visual information even when tired. If these pictures tell a funny story, some rudimental information...

Beaty AD, Lieberman PL, Slavin RG. Seafood allergy and radiocontrast media: are physicians propagating a myth? Am J Med 2008;121:158.e1-4. Böhm I, Morelli J, Nairz K et al. Myths and misconceptions concerning contrast media-induced anaphylaxis: a narrative review. Postgrad Med 2017;129:259-66. Böhm I, Nairz K, Morelli JN et al. Iodinated Contrast Media and the Alleged "Iodine Allergy": An Inexact Diagnosis Leading to Inferior Radiologic Management and Adverse Drug Reactions. Röfo 2017;189:326-32.