Evaluation of "Gastromiro" for bowel opacification during computed tomography: comparison with diatrizoate and barium sulphate.
A new oral formulation of iopamidol, "Gastromiro", was evaluated as a bowel contrast agent during abdominal computed tomography (CT). Comparison was made with the well established agents sodium/meglumine diatrizoate ("Urografin 370") and dilute barium sulphate ("E-Z CAT") in a randomized, blind study of 150 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal and/or pelvic CT. Parameters assessed included quality of bowel opacification, artefact generation, contrast-medium palatibility, side effects and cost. No significant difference was found between the three contrast media in stomach- or small-bowel opacification. E-Z CAT was superior at opacifying the caecum/ascending colon. No compelling reason to choose a particular agent was found in the other assessed parameters, but cost is a significant factor.
Doyle
G J
GJ
Department of Radiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
O'Donnell
S C
SC
McDonald
J R
JR
Murthy
L N
LN
Keir
M J
MJ
Wright
A R
AR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D016477:Artifacts; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D015588:Observer Variation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D007479:Iopamidol