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.

synthetic contrast-enhanced breast MRI

Are synthetic contrast-enhanced breast MRI images as good as the real thing?

Synthesizing contrast-enhanced imaging from pre-contrast inputs using deep learning can help overcome obstacles involved in the use of GBCAs.

Iodinated contrast use before, during and after COVID: Trends predict significant growth in demand

A new analysis suggests that, if the use of iodinated contrast were to follow pre-pandemic trends, it could rise by as much as 37% from 2019. 

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GE Healthcare set to bolster supply of iodinated contrast media

These moves are part of a broader plan to increase the supply of iodine raw material, eventually enabling the production of an additional 30 million doses of iodinated contrast media annually by the year 2025. 

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Experts share positive news for women who have undergone multiple GBCA exposures during breast MRI

Authors of the new study stated that their findings are “reassuring” for both clinicians and patients.

New contrast agent receives FDA approval after competitors collaborate on development

The Sept. 21 announcement states that Gadopiclenol Injection—a highly stable macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent—is approved for use in adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older during MRI exams.

contrast enhanced mammography

Scoring system outperforms BI-RADS assessments of contrast-enhanced mammography exams

For specificity—a metric that has been somewhat unpredictable in breast MRI and CEM—the scoring system performed significantly better than BI-RADS.

Omnipaque and Visipaque still listed among the FDA's drug shortages

According to the FDA’s most recent update, some presentations will remain out of stock or backordered until January 2023. 

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Contrast shortage prompts experts to contemplate future supply issues

A new article published by the Radiological Society of North America shares valuable commentary from experts in the field regarding how the medical industry can prepare for supply shortages in the future.