Time-density evaluation of the liver after iosulamide meglumine: a tissue-specific CT contrast agent.

Iosulamide meglumine, a new intravenous biliary contrast agent, was evaluated as a potential hepatic contrast agent utilizing computed tomographic scanning. Time-density data in dogs were generated following 56.7 and 75.6 mg iodine/kg body weight. The iodine was administered both as an iosulamide meglumine bolus injection and a 0.77 ml/min infusion. The greatest increase in x-ray attenuation (24 HU) was observed within 45 minutes after the 75.6 mg iodine/kg body weight infusion technique, which resulted in excellent hepatic opacification. The long duration of increased x-ray attenuation of hepatocytes produced by iosulamide meglumine would be useful in the CT detection of hepatic mass lesions which do not contain normally functioning hepatic cells.