Imaging Contrast

Contrast agents are injected into patients to help enhance images to make it easier for radiologists distinguish specific areas of the body from surrounding tissues. The most commonly used agents are iodinated contrast dye for computed tomography (CT), interventional cath lab angiography,  RF fluoroscopy, and in surgical OR procedures. MRI scans typically use gadolinium-based contrast agents. Ultrasound and echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) imaging use contrast agents composed of microscopic bubbles to enhance images that otherwise would be suboptimal.

MRA for pulmonary embolus

MR angiography a suitable alternative to CT when ruling out pulmonary embolus

The modality switch became especially important during the iodinated contrast shortage of 2022 when clinics were forced to deploy mitigation tactics as a means of preserving their contrast supply. 

June 22, 2023
gadolinium, GBCAs

When GBCA use in musculoskeletal imaging is and is not appropriate

Although gadolinium-based contrast agents are largely considered safe and are routinely used for MRI exams, experts suggest that providers should still utilize GBCAs sparingly for musculoskeletal studies.

June 14, 2023
Philips Healthcare booth sign at HIMSS23.

Philips' latest collaboration could make xenon MR imaging more widely available

In alliance with Polarean, Philips is rolling out a new MR system with advanced multi-nuclei imaging capabilities that will offer radiologists a detailed evaluation of lung ventilation using xenon gas as a contrast agent.

June 7, 2023
CT contrast injector data screen in a control room with the CT scanner in the background, at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital.

Is warming iodinated contrast prior to use really necessary?

The ACR Manual on Contrast Media suggests that highly viscous ICM should be warmed to body temperature prior to administration when using high-rate intravenous low-osmolality power injections, viscous iodinated CM, small-caliber catheters, or for timed studies looking at peak enhancement.   

May 18, 2023
The new MRI contrast agent gadopiclenol, sold under the trade names Elucirem and Vueway by Bracco and Guerbet, uses 50% less gadolinium than current MRI agents.

New contrast agent earns positive safety classification from ACR

The ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media stated that exposure to the gadolinium-based contrast agent represents a “sufficiently low or possibly nonexistent” risk to patients.

May 10, 2023
CT iodine contrast Omnipaq bolus next to a scanner at Central DuPage Hospital.

New data suggest clinicians should think twice before foregoing contrast-enhanced imaging

The new data highlight a potential pitfall of unenhanced CT scans on patients presenting to emergency departments with acute pain—an inaccurate workup.

May 4, 2023

ACR applauds FDA about-face on use of iodinated contrast in children

The update marks a change from the FDA's stance on the topic last year.

April 27, 2023
CCTA with patient-specific versus fixed post-trigger delay

Patient-specific versus fixed post-trigger delay: Which offers superior CCTA image quality?

New research compares peak enhancement timing of a patient-specific post-trigger delay and a fixed delay during CCTA.

April 7, 2023

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

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