Iopamidol for intrathecal use in pediatric neuroradiology.

A clinical trial using iopamidol, a non-ionic contrast medium, in various iodine concentrations (300, 200 and 150 mg I/ml), was carried out in 947 children, aged between 1 day and 14 years, who underwent various neuroradiologic procedures: computed tomography (CT) cisternography (n = 307), CT ventriculography (n = 203), CT myelography (n = 153), and conventional myelography (n = 284). No significant variation in vital signs and neurologic status was recorded during and up to 72 hours after the examination. Psychic agitation was the major effect registered, being clearly related to the type of procedure used. A significant reduction of untoward side effects (about 50%) was observed using the lower concentrations of the medium. Iopamidol 150 mg and 200 mg represented the optimal concentration for CT enhancement, these concentrations reducing artifacts; the 300 mg I/ml concentration gave best results in conventional radiology. It seems that the lower concentrations of iopamidol (200 and 150 mg I/ml) can be usefully employed in pediatric neuroradiology, with preserved contrast and dramatically reduced untoward reactions.