[Trigger Warning]
34-year-old Leigh Rodgers from Durham, England had a tooth infection that was causing her severe pain. Unable to book a forthcoming dentist appointment, she sought emergency treatment at a local hospital.
During the delay in treatment, the pain spread to her neck and chest, prompting doctors to suspect she may have been suffering from Ludwig’s angina, a life-threatening bacterial infection that can be caused by a tooth infection.
The doctors ordered a CT scan, which routinely requires an injection of contrast dye. Ninety minutes later, Rodgers was dead due to anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction — despite attempts to resuscitate her.
According to testimony at the inquest into her death on February 19, 2025, the results from the CT scan showed no evidence of Ludwig’s angina.
Pam Rodgers, Leigh’s mother, was incensed, lashing out at the health system:
If she could’ve gotten a dental appointment, she wouldn’t be dead. Every time I close my eyes I imagine my daughter in the coffin.
She also alleged her daughter had not been briefed about the risks of contrast media:
I don’t accept that they [hospital staff] were too busy. There’s nothing stopping them from handing out a leaflet to explain the risks.
I want to make people aware of the risks of contrast medium and issues with the NHS.
According to Dr Manouchehr Saljoughian, PharmD, PhD, Department of Pharmacy at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, California:
Reactions to IV dye are observed in 5% to 8% of patients who receive them. Mild reactions include a feeling of warmth, nausea, and vomiting. Generally, these symptoms occur only for a short period of time and do not require treatment. Moderate reactions, including severe vomiting, hives, and swelling, occur in 1% of patients receiving contrast media and frequently require treatment. Severe, life-threatening reactions, including anaphylaxis, occur in 0.1% of people receiving contrast media, with an expected death rate of one person in every 75,000.
He also provided insight into the lack of testing for allergy to contrast dye:
Skin testing and RAST (radioallergosorbent test) have not been helpful in the diagnosis of contrast media allergy. Small “test” doses are also not helpful, with reports of severe, life-threatening reactions occurring even at such amounts. Severe reactions to larger doses of contrast media have been observed after a person tolerated a small dose of IV dye. Therefore, the diagnosis of contrast media allergy is made only after symptoms have occurred. Otherwise, it is only possible to determine that a person is at increased risk of a reaction to contrast media based on the risk factors outlined [in article].
