Bronchography in iodine sensitivity.

The instillation of iodized oil into the bronchial tree is widely used in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis, the delineation of distorted or obstructed bronchi, and the determination of communications between bronchi and the pleura, skin, or air cysts. All the radiopaque preparations commonly used in bronchography today contain iodine. Those most frequently used are lipiodol,® which contains 40% iodine in poppyseed oil, and iodochloral,® which contains 27% iodine and 7.5% chlorine in organic combination with highly refined peanut oil. Bronchography with these agents is usually innocuous, but untoward reactions, such as iododerma and asthma-like reactions with fatal outcome in two cases, have been reported. 1 It is imperative, therefore, that proper inquiry be made as to sensitivity to iodine prior to the use of any iodine-containing contrast medium. A patient with suspected bronchiectasis was recently admitted to the hospital for study. The presence of pronounced iodine sensitivity made the use