EVALUATION OF GASTROMIRO FOR BOWEL OPACIFICATION DURING COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY - COMPARISON WITH DIATRIZOATE AND BARIUM-SULFATE

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.