As a result, blood vessels, organs and other body tissue that temporarily contain the iodine-based or barium compounds change their appearance on x-ray or CT images. When iodine-based and barium-sulfate contrast materials are present in a specific area of the body, they block or limit the ability of x-rays to pass through. powder, which is mixed with water before administration.It is also used rectally and is available in several forms, including: These contrast materials can be injected into veins or arteries, within the disks or the fluid spaces of the spine, and into other body cavities.īarium-sulfate is the most common contrast material taken by mouth, or orally. Iodine-based and barium-sulfate compounds are used in x-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging exams.Ĭontrast materials can have a chemical structure that includes iodine, a naturally occurring chemical element.There are several types of contrast materials: injected into a blood vessel (vein or artery also referred to as being given intravenously or intra-arterially)įollowing an imaging exam with contrast material, the material is absorbed by the body or eliminated through urine or bowel movements.This helps physicians diagnose medical conditions by improving the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, or tissues.Ĭontrast materials enter the body in one of several ways. Contrast materials help distinguish or "contrast" selected areas of the body from surrounding tissue. When introduced into the body prior to an imaging exam, contrast materials make certain structures or tissues in the body appear different on the images than they would if no contrast material had been administered.
The materials discussed in this article do not produce radiation. They are substances that temporarily change the way x-rays or other imaging tools interact with the body. Contrast materials, also known as contrast agents or contrast media, are used to improve the diagnostic value of those imaging exams.Ĭontrast materials are not dyes that permanently discolor internal organs. Imaging exams such as x-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MRI), and fluoroscopy are selected based on their ability to show specific information about the structures within the body. When a physician needs to understand what is happening inside our bodies, they often request that a patient undergo an imaging exam. What are contrast materials and how do they work?
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