Intravenous Iodinated Contrast Media Research Articles

Value of computerized tomography in evaluation of kidney

The use of intravenous iodinated contrast material after a preliminary computerized axial tonrographie scan of the kidney has been an extremely valuable adjunct in diffe rentiating benign, malignant, and some infanonatory processes. The diagnosis of the type of lesion present has been facilitated and allows direction for further diagnosis and therapy.

Detection of myocardial ischemia in vitro by computed tomography.

The applicability of CT in the delineation of ischemic myocardium is defined. Twenty-six dogs had their left anterior descending coronary artery occluded, and radiolabeled microspheres were injected into the left atrium to measure myocardial blood flow. From 30 minutes to 7 weeks after coronary occlusion the hearts were excised and scanned in a CT head scanner. An unbiased observer divided selected CT scans slices into normal, abnormal, and borderline areas of attenuation coefficients; these were correlated with blood flow measurements and a progressive decrease in flow from normal to borderline and borderline to abnormal segments was found. As early as 2 hours after coronary arterial occlusion, areas of reduced attenuation coefficient, corresponding to regions of reduced blood flow, were seen. Areas of increased attenuation were seen in regions containing microcalcifications and fibrosis in several longer term experiments. Areas of reduced blood flow were visible immediately after coronary arterial occlusion with intravenous iodinated contrast material (1 ml/kg). CT detection of regions of reduced blood flow defined by radiolabeled microsphere is a promising means of detecting and sizing myocardial infarcts.

Gated computed tomography of the human heart.

Production of in vivo images of the human heart, with delineation of the individual cardiac chambers and myocardial wall thickness, was accomplished by coupling a relatively simple electrocardiographic gating device to a translate-rotate type of computed body tomographic scanner. Differentiation between the myocardial wall and the intracardiac blood pool was attainable in the patient with a normal hematocrit only when intravenous iodinated contrast media was used.

Use of a tampon to enhance vaginal localization in computed tomography

Computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis may be one of the more promising applications of this diagnostic method. In this region. tissue planes and organs are generally well discriminated by natural accumulations of fat, and, unlike the upper abdomen, physiologic movement which might degrade images is minimal. Nevertheless, in the presence of neoplastic disease and fluid accumulations, confusion may arise in discriminating normal from abnormal structures. Experience has shown the value of contrast enhancement of various pelvic structures. Early reports showed the advantage of intravenous iodinated contrast media to image the ureters and bladders directly, as well as to increase the absorption differences between structures of different vasculanities [1]. Identification of bowel loops is facilitated by the ingestion of dilute water-soluble contrast material. Negative contrast has also been useful. In this regard, we found that intravesical carbon dioxide gas enhances the imaging of bladder neoplasms [21. This report illustrates how the vagina can be more clearly imaged with negative contrast produced after insertion of a vaginal tampon. The technique is currently used routinely at our institution.