Cost-effectiveness and safety of selective use of low-osmolality contrast media.

Rationale And Objectives: We estimated our potential institutional savings by switching from universal to selective use of low-osmolality contrast media.

Methods: A total of 42,598 radiocontrast studies (26,595 with high-osmolality contrast agents and 16,003 with low-osmolality contrast agents [LOCA]) were performed over 42 months. Every radiocontrast reaction was classified and documented.

Presacral abscesses: percutaneous transperineal drainage with use of bone landmarks and fluoroscopic guidance.

Presacral abscesses developed in two men (aged 59 and 76 years) after abdominoperineal resection. Computed tomography was performed to demonstrate the distance from the abscess to the perineum and the distance of the abscess anterior to the sacrum. Then, lateral and anteroposterior fluoroscopy was performed to guide transperineal drainage catheter placement.

Pharmaceutical properties, biodistribution, and imaging characteristics of manganese-mesoporphyrin. A potential hepatobiliary contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Manganese (III) mesoporphyrin (Mn-mesoporphyrin) was investigated for its pharmaceutical properties and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics as a potential hepatobiliary contrast agent.

Methods: Solubility, partition coefficient, plasma binding, proton relaxation enhancement, biodistribution, biliary excretion, liver extraction ratio, and liver enhancement were measured in various in-vitro and in-vivo systems.

Results: Mn-mesoporphyrin was soluble and stable at moderate alkaline pH in phosphate buffer.