EOE-13 and Other Contrast Agents for Computed Tomography of the Liver

Abstract

Except for the occasional patient with calcified hepatic metastases, there is relatively little difference in x-ray attenuation between metastases and normal liver parenchyma in most patients. Improvement in the computed tomographic (CT) detection of these metastases is dependent on the use of contrast agents to increase the difference in x-ray attenuation and improve visual contrast between the lesion and surrounding normal liver. These agents may selectively increase the attenuation of the normal liver or the metastasis, but ideally should not affect both. Should the x-ray attenuation of both increase, there will be no gain in visual contrast. Contrast agent research has been guided by this principle, and recent work has concentrated in two areas — improvement in the use of existing contrast agents and the development of new agents, such as EOE-13.