Radiology, Vol 121, 379-382, Copyright © 1976 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Extravascular contrast material: the major component of contrast enhancement

M Kormano and PB Dean

The distribution volume of 125l-diatrizoate in rat tissues was studied 5 seconds to 5 minutes after intravenous injection and 5 seconds to 2 minutes after intra-arterial injection. Immediately after injection, diatrizoate was distributed into a larger volume than plasma. Marked temporal changes in the distribution volume of individual tissues occurred during the first 2 minutes. At 5 minutes, the diatrizoate space approached the total extracellular fluid volume, with more than 80% of the contrast agent remaining outside the blood vessels. Thus the relative magnitude of contrast enhancement of a tissue appears to be related to the volume of the rapidly equilibrating extracellular space. Intra-arterial administration can significantly overload muscle with contrast material for about 2 minutes. This and other temporal changes in contrast distribution may prove useful in contrast-enhanced computed tomography using short scanning times.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Monzawa, T. Ichikawa, H. Nakajima, Y. Kitanaka, K. Omata, and T. Araki Dynamic CT for Detecting Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Usefulness of Delayed Phase Imaging Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2007; 188(1): 147 - 153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. J. Jeong, K. S. Lee, S. Y. Jeong, M. J. Chung, S. S. Shim, H. Kim, O J. Kwon, and S. Kim Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: Characterization with Combined Wash-in and Washout Features at Dynamic Multi-Detector Row CT Radiology, November 1, 2005; 237(2): 675 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Swensen Functional CT: Lung Nodule Evaluation RadioGraphics, July 1, 2000; 20(4): 1178 - 1181. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-y. Kim, J.-J. Chung, M.-J. Kim, S. Park, J. T. Lee, and H. S. Yoo Atypical Inside-Out Pattern of Hepatic Hemangiomas Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2000; 174(6): 1571 - 1574. [Full Text]

				S. J. Swensen, R. W. Viggiano, D. E. Midthun, N. L. Müller, A. Sherrick, K. Yamashita, D. P. Naidich, E. F. Patz, T. E. Hartman, J. R. Muhm, et al. Lung Nodule Enhancement at CT: Multicenter Study1 Radiology, January 1, 2000; 214(1): 73 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. D. Schaefer, K. R. Maravilla, R. A. Suss, D. K. Burns, R. Nunnally, M. A. Merkel, and L. G. Close Magnetic Resonance Imaging vs Computed Tomography: Comparison in Imaging Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Carcinomas Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, November 1, 1985; 111(11): 730 - 734. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Schaefer, M. Merkel, D. K. Burns, and L. G. Close Computed Tomography of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Assessment Following Induction Chemotherapy Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, April 1, 1984; 110(4): 236 - 240. [Abstract] [PDF]