Risk of acute kidney injury in cancer patients after iodinated contrast medium administration and prophylactic strategies: Summary from the most recent guidelines

Abstract

Post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) is a serious complication that primarily affects people with multiple comorbidities who undergo imaging examination with iodinated contrast medium (CM), worsening their outcome and prognosis. This is particularly true for cancer patients, for whom contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is of considerable value in diagnosis and management of the tumor and who are frequently subjected to dehydration and administration of nephrotoxic drugs. The debate on the real prevalence and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to CM administration is still ongoing and the lack of controlled studies and reliable evidence has generated wide heterogeneity in patient management and prophylaxis. The whole idea of this protocol is to analyze most up-to-date guidelines on preventing AKI due to CM administration trying to provide a practical guide.