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.

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Omnipaque and Visipaque still listed among the FDA's drug shortages

According to the FDA’s most recent update, some presentations will remain out of stock or backordered until January 2023. 

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Contrast shortage prompts experts to contemplate future supply issues

A new article published by the Radiological Society of North America shares valuable commentary from experts in the field regarding how the medical industry can prepare for supply shortages in the future. 

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ACR updates contrast guidelines, permitting non-physician providers to supervise administration

The Aug. 29 statement indicates that non-radiologist physicians, advanced practice providers and registered nurses can oversee intravenous CT and MRI contrast administration at accredited imaging centers.

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EHR-based solutions to the iodinated contrast shortage reduce usage by 12%

This week in AJR, experts from a large, multisite health system detailed their efforts to preserve contrast supplies by implementing electronic health record (EHR) order entry-based interventions.

Have we been 'overdependent' on iodinated contrast? New paper calls into question prior practices before the shortage

"Ultimately, long-term studies are vital to parse out whether the absence of iodinated contrast media greatly affected patient outcomes or if we have been overdependent on ICM unnecessarily.” 

FDA temporarily approves importation of a second foreign-labeled iodinated contrast media

Bracco Diagnostics, Inc has been given the go ahead by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to temporarily import Iomeron (iomeprol injection) into the U.S. market amid the ongoing iodinated contrast media shortage. 

Iodine contrast being loaded into a contrast injector in preparation for a cardiac CT scan at Duly Health and Care in Lisle, Illinois. The contrast shortage is causing some healthcare organizations to postpone exams and procedures and ration contrast supplies. Photo by Dave Fornell

Substituting iodinated contrast media in patients with a history of ICM reactions reduces risk by 61%

“For patients with a prior ICM-induced hypersensitivity reaction, healthcare providers must balance the benefit of ICM reuse against the risk of a repeat reaction,” authors of a new meta-analysis published in Radiology said.

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Generic, FDA approved contrast agent set to hit the market in wake of nationwide shortage

On July 18 Fresenius Kabi announced that they are rolling out a line of generic contrast media products, starting immediately with Iodixanol Injection USP. 

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A closer look at how FDA's flurpiridaz approval will impact nuclear cardiology

The newly approved PET radiotracer is expected to improve patient care significantly. “We have been able to reach the pinnacle of myocardial perfusion imaging with flurpiridaz," one expert said.

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'This could be a paradigm shift': How PET with newly approved flurpiridaz compares to SPECT

GE HealthCare's flurpiridaz, the PET radiotracer that recently received FDA approval, offers several key benefits over SPECT. Jamshid Maddahi, MD, discussed the details in an exclusive interview. 

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Ultrafast myocardial contrast echocardiography shows early potential to evaluate CAD

Ultrafast MCE could go on to become a go-to treatment option for obstructive coronary artery disease, according to the authors of a new first-in-human clinical study.

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