COMPARISON OF PATIENT REACTIONS AND DIAGNOSTIC QUALITY FOR HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY USING IONIC AND NONIONIC CONTRAST-MEDIA

Rationale and Objectives. We compared adverse reactions and image qual ity for hysterosalpingography (HSG) performed with ionic (diatrizoate meglumine combined with iodipamide meglumine [DM+IM]) and nonionic (io hexol) contrast media. Methods. We performed a study of 95 patients wh o had HSG and were randomly selected to receive DM+IM or iohexol. Pati ents reported episodes of abdominal pain and other adverse reactions i mmediately and 24 hr after the procedure and categorized severity of s ymptoms on a subjective scale. Two radiologists evaluated image qualit y for diagnosis. Results. Prevalence of abdominal pain and other react ions both immediately and 24 hr after HSG was lower in patients who re ceived iohexol than in patients who received DM+IM. Moderate or severe abdominal pain was significantly lower in the iohexol group than in t he DM+IM group (p<.05). Visualization of the uterine cavity and ampull ary rugae was judged excellent with both contrast media (87% with iohe xol and 92% with DM+IM). Conclusion. Iohexol and DM+IM are excellent c ontrast media for use during HSG; iohexol 300 may cause fewer episodes of more severe and prolonged abdominal pain.