Delivery of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, nuclear medicine and ultrasound

This review describes and provides an overview of, and recent developments in, the area of liposomal contrast agents as applied to the diagnostic specialities of magnetic resonance, computed tomography, nuclear medicine and ultrasonography. Following a brief background of the clinical context and role of contrast agents in these various modalities, the review presents, where appropriate, a discussion of the theoretical background, as well as the critical design considerations pertinent to the rational and optimal delivery of contrast using lipid vesicles. Each section describes recent applications not covered by earlier reviews and concludes with a brief discussion of questions that remain unanswered or unresolved, that would merit further study. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.