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.

ACR updates requirements for on-site staff overseeing contrast administration

A clinician trained to manage reactions should be on-site at any imaging facilities doing contrast studies to maintain patient safety.

AI Imaging Contrast Development

National Science Foundation issues $1M grant to eliminate imaging contrast with AI

Case Western Reserve University researchers hope to make the diagnosis of cancer safer and less expensive.

Video of David Hur discussing how to overcome technical challenges in cardiac CT, which he presented on in sessions at SCCT 2023.

Overcoming technical challenges in cardiac CT

David Hur, MD, director of structural heart disease/interventional imaging at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, and an assistant professor of medicine at Yale, explains the technical challenges encountered in cardiac computed tomography (CT) and how to overcome them.

liver cancer

Targeted training reduces certain radiologist errors when reading contrast-enhanced CT

Physicians can sometimes overlook low-contrast lesions, such as hepatic metastases or pancreatic adenocarcinoma, on computed tomography scans. 

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How the 2022 contrast media shortage impacted stroke care

A team of specialists tracked CT utilization before, during and after the 2022 shortage, sharing its findings in the American Journal of Neuroradiology.

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Generic substitute for gadolinium-based contrast agent Gadavist hits the market

The contrast agent, simply called Gadobutrol Injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is now available in the United States.

Rethinking ICM storage could help imaging departments reduce waste by 59%

“While drug pricing is not opaque and absolute costs of medications can vary widely, any waste comes at a cost," researchers wrote in a new analysis. 

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PROMISE trial results reinforce confidence in new MRI contrast agent

The randomized, double-blinded phase 3 study revealed gadopiclenol to be noninferior to gadobutrol for all qualitative visualization parameters as rated by all blinded readers involved in the trial.