INSUFFLATION OF POWDERED TANTALUM IN ESOPHAGUS - NEW ESOPHAGOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE

Esophagograms of excellent detail were obtained in cats, a dog and a healthy human subject by insufflation of powdered tantalum. Powdered tantalum is an excellent contrast material because: 1) only small amounts of tantalum provide adequate contrast for roentgenograms; 2) tantalum adheres to the esophageal mucosa and remains for one to four hours, even after administration of water; and 3) tantalum is chemically inert and is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The method shows promise as a research tool in animals, and may prove useful for clinical diagnostic examinations. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.