Extravascular Contrast Material: The Major Component of Contrast Enhancement

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Abstract
The distribution volume of 125I-diatrizoate in rat tissues was studied 5 s to 5 min after i.v. injection and 5 s to 2 min after intra-arterial injection. Immediately after injection, diatrizoate was distributed into a larger volume than plasma. Marked temporal changes in the distribution volume of individual tissues occurred during the 1st 2 min. At 5 min, the diatrizoate space approached the total extracellular fluid volume, with more than 80% of the contrast agent remaining outside the blood vessels. The relative magnitude of contrast enhancement of a tissue appears to be related to the volume of the rapidly equilibrating extracellular space. Intra-arterial administration can significantly overload muscle with contrast material for about 2 min. This and other temporal changes in contrast distribution may prove useful in contrast-enhanced computed tomography using short scanning times.

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