GD-DTPA AS AN ALTERNATIVE CONTRAST AGENT IN CONVENTIONAL AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Purpose: Patients with contra-indications to iodine-based contrast med ia present problems in radiological examination. In this study, we eva luated Gd-DTPA as an alternative contrast agent in conventional and in terventional radiology. Material and Methods: The undiluted contrast a gent Gd-DTPA meglumine (469 mg/ml, Magnevist) was used in 10 examinati ons in 8 patients. A dosage of 20-45 ml was used in 5 conventional stu dies: endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, cystography, urethrocysto graphy, and 2 retrograde pyelographies. A dosage of 10-120 ml was used in 5 interventions: 1 percutaneous nephrostomy, and 4 biliary tract d rainages. Results. The image quality was adequate in all studies. No a dverse pharmacological reactions occurred; however, there was renal ex travasation of Gd-DTPA which did cause temporary pain in 1 patient at bilateral retrograde pyelography. Conclusion. Gd-DTPA may be used as a n alternative contrast medium in selected conventional and interventio nal roentgenological studies when iodine is contra-indicated.