title: Oral contrast agents for CT: a taste test survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our goal was to evaluate the palatability of the currently available oral contrast agents for CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 202 adults (92 women and 110 men) with a mean age of 59 years. Each participant sampled five or eight products. The participants ingested 1 oz. of each product and recorded an overall score, taking into account the factors of palatability that were important to them. Scores were marked on a visual analog rating scale with 0 representing "dislike a lot" and 10 representing "like a lot."
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following mean palatability scores were obtained: Gastrografin mixed with Tropical Punch Kool-Aid 8.2; Scan C 5.7; Cheetah 4.7; Readi-Cat 4.4; E-Z-Cat 4.0; Tomo-Cat 3.6, Prep-Cat 3.5; Baro-Cat 3.2; Lipomul mixed with water 3.1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statistical cluster analysis suggested the following groupings of the products (i.e., products with statistically similar scores grouped together): Cluster 1-Kool-Aid with Gastrografin; Cluster 2-Scan C, Cheetah, Readi-Cat: Cluster 3-E-Z-Cat, Tomo-Cat, Prep-Cat, Baro-Cat, Lipomul.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Quagliano
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D001628:Beverages; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007454:Iodides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013649:Taste; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D007454:Iodides; D014867:Water; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D003314:Corn Oil