A comparison of iodine-based oral contrast agents suggests that patients like the taste of iohexol better than diatrizoate, a preference that may be useful for very ill patients who have trouble tolerating the taste of contrast agents.
Researchers from the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA, studied patient reaction to taking iohexol (Omnipaque, GE Healthcare, Chalfont St. Giles, U.K.) or meglumine sodium diatrizoate (Gastroview, Covidien, Dublin, Ireland).
The researchers concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between the two agents in the incidence of adverse reactions. The extent and density of gastrointestinal tract opacification also were similar between the two groups, and the cost of the two agents is comparable given the current low cost of low-osmolar contrast agents.
The study was presented last month at the Abdominal Radiology Course meeting held by the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists (SGR) and the Society of Uroradiology (SUR) in Orlando, FL.
Related Reading
GE shows new eHealth technology at HIMSS, March 2, 2010
GE launches clinical knowledge platform, March 2, 2010
GE settles with Omniscan critic, February 26, 2010
GE, Intel to study home monitoring, February 24, 2010
GE's Vscan to be used at Olympics, February 19, 2010
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![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
