A review of the findings on computed cranial tomography following intravenous contrast media.

The diagnostic contribution of contrast enhancement by intravenous injection of meglumine diatrizoate was assessed in 121 patients who received both plain and contrast enhanced cranial CT scans. The use of contrast enhancement was found to provide both an increased sensitivity in detection of lesions and some improvement in pathological differentiation of lesions. The use of contrast enhancement in addition to plain CT scans increases the reliability of CT scans in excluding such conditions as neoplasms, abscesses, and vascular malformations. Because the use of contrast medium is associated with morbidity (and significantly extends the length of the total study), the decision to employ contrast enhancement must be based upon a careful evaluation of the clinical, other radiological, and plain CT findings in the individual patient.