{"entity":{"id":"iodinated-contrast-media","kind":"technology","name":"Iodinated and barium contrast for CT and X-ray","aka":["CT contrast","CT dye","Iodinated contrast","Iodine contrast","X-ray contrast","Oral contrast"],"tldr":"The iodine-based dyes injected into a vein for most CT scans, and the drinks of iodine or barium that outline the gut. They make blood vessels, organs and many tumours stand out.","summary":"The WHO groups water-soluble low-osmolar X-ray contrast media under ATC V08AB, including iohexol, iopamidol, iopromide, ioversol, iodixanol, iomeprol and iobitridol. Labels in the United States cover CT of the head and body, angiography and urography; several carry boxed warnings against intrathecal use, and iohexol's warns to use only the concentrations recommended for intrathecal procedures. Iopromide's label also covers contrast-enhanced mammography. Oral agents outline the gut: barium sulfate drinks for CT of the abdomen, and water-soluble diatrizoate (Gastrografin) when barium could be dangerous.","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"WHO ATC index V08AB: low osmolar X-ray contrast media","url":"https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=V08AB&showdescription=no"}],"tags":["contrast-agents-gaps-2026-11"],"related":[],"cancers":["colorectal","nsclc","breast-cancer"],"sections":["imaging"],"technologies":["ct","gadolinium-based-contrast-agents","contrast-enhanced-mammography"],"targets":[],"drugs":["iohexol","iodixanol","iopamidol","iopromide","ioversol","iomeprol","diatrizoate","iothalamate-meglumine","barium-sulfate","ethiodized-oil"],"companies":["ge-healthcare","bracco","bayer"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"provenance":{"editedBy":"OnCo contrast agent gap fill (Drugs@FDA, FDA labels, DailyMed, EMA register, WHO ATC index)","editedOn":"2026-11-04"},"principle":"Iodine and barium have high atomic numbers and absorb X-rays strongly, so tissues and spaces containing them appear bright; tumours with abnormal vessels enhance in characteristic phases after an intravenous injection.","strengths":["Fast, widely available imaging of the whole body","Enhancement patterns help characterise tumours"],"limitations":["Allergic-type reactions","Some agents are not for intrathecal use, per boxed warnings"],"since":1958},"route":"/technologies/iodinated-contrast-media/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"breast-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Breast cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/breast-cancer/"},{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"},{"id":"nsclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Non-small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/nsclc/"}],"section":[{"id":"imaging","kind":"section","name":"Imaging","route":"/fronts/imaging/"}],"technology":[{"id":"contrast-enhanced-mammography","kind":"technology","name":"Contrast-enhanced mammography","route":"/technologies/contrast-enhanced-mammography/"},{"id":"ct","kind":"technology","name":"CT (computed tomography)","route":"/technologies/ct/"},{"id":"gadolinium-based-contrast-agents","kind":"technology","name":"Gadolinium-based and other MRI contrast agents","route":"/technologies/gadolinium-based-contrast-agents/"}],"drug":[{"id":"barium-sulfate","kind":"drug","name":"Barium sulfate oral contrast","route":"/drugs/barium-sulfate/"},{"id":"diatrizoate","kind":"drug","name":"Diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium (oral contrast)","route":"/drugs/diatrizoate/"},{"id":"ethiodized-oil","kind":"drug","name":"Ethiodized oil","route":"/drugs/ethiodized-oil/"},{"id":"iodixanol","kind":"drug","name":"Iodixanol","route":"/drugs/iodixanol/"},{"id":"iohexol","kind":"drug","name":"Iohexol","route":"/drugs/iohexol/"},{"id":"iomeprol","kind":"drug","name":"Iomeprol","route":"/drugs/iomeprol/"},{"id":"iopamidol","kind":"drug","name":"Iopamidol","route":"/drugs/iopamidol/"},{"id":"iopromide","kind":"drug","name":"Iopromide","route":"/drugs/iopromide/"},{"id":"iothalamate-meglumine","kind":"drug","name":"Iothalamate meglumine (bladder contrast)","route":"/drugs/iothalamate-meglumine/"},{"id":"ioversol","kind":"drug","name":"Ioversol","route":"/drugs/ioversol/"}],"company":[{"id":"bayer","kind":"company","name":"Bayer","route":"/companies/bayer/"},{"id":"bracco","kind":"company","name":"Bracco (Bracco Imaging and Bracco Diagnostics)","route":"/companies/bracco/"},{"id":"ge-healthcare","kind":"company","name":"GE HealthCare","route":"/companies/ge-healthcare/"}]}}