Purpose: To assess the severity of adverse reactions to contrast media in outpatient computed tomographic (CT) examinations in a conventional clinical setting.
Materials and methods: In 4,936 patients, CT was performed with four protocols: ionic contrast medium with sodium meglumine as the cation (in one protocol, contrast material was warmed to 35 degrees C before injection; in another protocol, it was administered at ambient temperature); warmed, ionic contrast medium with nonsodium pure meglumine as the cation; and warmed, nonionic iopamidol.
Results: Adverse reactions to ionic contrast material statistically significantly decreased (P<.05) when it was warmed before administration. Reactions to ionic contrast media without a sodium cation were statistically significantly fewer (P<.001) than reactions to those with a sodium cation. In all protocols, pediatric patients had fewer reactions than adult patients.
Conclusion: In outpatient CT examinations, nonionic, warmed contrast medium was the best option because no severe reactions resulted from its use. Prevalence of adverse reactions was comparable to that in controlled randomized studies.