Rationales for the use of intravenous contrast medium in computed tomography.

There are currently many computed tomographic units with differing performance capabilities, resulting in confusion over protocols for contrast medium usage. Additionally, the development of the safer but more expensive low osmolar contrast agents has increased interest in evolving clearer indications for contrast medium usage in C.T. scanning. Rationales for the use of intravenous agents in C.T. scanning are proposed. These include the labelling of normal structures for anatomic clarification, the assessment of perfusion, the characterisation of a specific lesion, CT Angiography, demonstration of defects in the blood brain barrier and the phenomenon of neovascularity. The logical use of contrast agents should involve the deliberate invocation of one or more of these mechanisms coupled with the appropriate technique of administration.

[1]  R. Kramer,et al.  An approach to contrast enhancement in computed tomography of the brain. , 1975, Radiology.

[2]  I. K. Fry,et al.  Excretion urography. I. Factors determining the excretion of Hypaque. , 1967, The British journal of radiology.

[3]  N. Lewtas,et al.  Indications for contrast medium enhancement in computed tomography of the brain. , 1977, Clinical radiology.

[4]  A. Rosenbaum,et al.  Rationale and techniques for intravenous enhancement in computed tomography. , 1982, The Radiologic clinics of North America.

[5]  F. Adams,et al.  Cytogenetic effects of contrast media and triiodobenzoic acid derivatives in human lymphocytes. , 1978, Radiology.

[6]  W. Webb,et al.  Dynamic computed tomography in the evaluation of vascular lung lesions. , 1981, Radiology.

[7]  Joseph K. T. Lee.  Computed body tomography , 1988 .

[8]  R. Coleman,et al.  An extravascular component of contrast enhancement in cranial computed tomography. Part I. The tissue-blood ratio of contrast enhancement. , 1975, Radiology.

[9]  L. Hayman,et al.  Delayed high iodine dose contrast computed tomography: cranial neoplasms. , 1980, Radiology.

[10]  P. Freeny,et al.  Patterns of contrast enhancement of benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms during bolus dynamic and delayed CT. , 1986, Radiology.

[11]  J. Ambrose,et al.  Computerized transverse axial scanning (tomography): Part 2. Clinical application* , 1973 .

[12]  V. M. Phillips,et al.  CT densities in delayed iodine hepatic scanning. , 1985, Radiology.

[13]  E. A. Stevens,et al.  Quantitative aspects of contrast enhancement in cranial computed tomography. , 1978, Radiology.

[14]  W A Kalender,et al.  Bolus geometry and dynamics after intravenous contrast medium injection. , 1984, Radiology.

[15]  M Kormano,et al.  Extravascular contrast material: the major component of contrast enhancement. , 1976, Radiology.

[16]  A. Kaye,et al.  Incremental dynamic computed tomography: practical method of imaging the carotid bifurcation. , 1986, AJR. American journal of roentgenology.

[17]  B. Kendall,et al.  Contrast enhancement in ischaemic lesions. I. Relationship to prognosis. , 1980, Neuroradiology.

[18]  Y. Itai,et al.  Transient hepatic attenuation difference of lobar or segmental distribution detected by dynamic computed tomography. , 1982, Radiology.

[19]  P. Schnyder,et al.  Computed tomography of focal hepatic lesions: a blind clinical evaluation of the effect of contrast enhancement. , 1979, Radiology.

[20]  S. Young,et al.  A strategy for the contrast enhancement of malignant tumors using dynamic computed tomography and intravascular pharmacokinetics. , 1980, Radiology.

[21]  R. Coleman,et al.  An extravascular component of contrast enhancement in cranial computed tomography. Part II. Contrast enhancement and the blood-tissue barrier. , 1975, Radiology.