Oral administration of iopentol (Imagopaque 300 mg I/ml) compared with amidotrizoate (Peritrast 300 mg I/ml), both diluted to 2% (v/v), in imaging of the gastrointestinal tract in abdominal contrast enhanced CT. A clinical trial assessing patient tolerance, distribution of contrast medium and Hounsfield unit measurements.

Abstract

The aim of the trial was to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of iopentol (Imagopaque, Nycomed Imaging AS, Oslo, Norway) and amidotrizoate (Peritrast, Köhler Pharma, Alsbach, Germany), both 300 mg I/ml initially, but diluted to 2% (v/v) and administered orally. Sixty-four and 65 patients were included in the respective contrast medium groups. Portions of contrast medium, totally 1.51, were taken every 15 min during the hour before the examination. A standard radiological procedure for abdominal CT was followed. Nine percent of the patients in each group experienced adverse events which were possibly contrast medium related. Taste acceptance was comparable in the two groups. Except for the stomach, radiographic efficacy was satisfactory for all intestinal segments. The difference in density in the proximal small bowel (main parameter) achieved with the media was not significant (p = 0.33), nor was that as regards image homogeneity (contrast distribution). In conclusion, iopentol is well suited for oral contrast enhancement of the gastrointestinal tract in abdominal computed tomography.