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.

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.
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.
Cardiologists push back on FDA’s thyroid monitoring/contrast media proposal
According to a new SCAI statement, the FDA's recommendation would result in "far-reaching consequences" across multiple specialties.
VIDEO: Mitigating the contrast media shortage impact on CT imaging
Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on computed tomography (CT) and cardiac imaging.
Contrast shortage update: GE expects supply to 'progressively recover' soon
Production at the facility in Shanghai is expected to be near 100% starting on June 6.

UFR-guided hydration minimizes contrast-induced complications in CKD patients

Urine flow rate-guided hydration, as opposed to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure-guided hydration, could prevent more complications in CKD patients who are at a high risk for contrast-induced kidney injury.

October 15, 2019

Ultrasound societies want the FDA to remove contrast label warning

The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) is again urging the FDA to remove the “black box” warning from ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) labels, following its filing of a September 2018 citizen petition with the federal agency.

March 6, 2019

ASE recommends contrast agent usage in echoes

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has issued a consensus statement, supporting the use of contrast agents used to enhance echocardiogram images, and providing a guide for physicians who may be hesitant to use the contrast agents following a 2007 FDA black-box warning. The statement was published in the November issue of Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

November 13, 2008

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Imaging Contrast

Overcoming technical challenges in cardiac CT

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

Cardiologists push back on FDA’s thyroid monitoring/contrast media proposal

VIDEO: Mitigating the contrast media shortage impact on CT imaging

Contrast shortage update: GE expects supply to 'progressively recover' soon

Around the web