What is a 'contrast agent'?

What is a 'contrast agent'?

Kenneth W. Chin (M.D., F.A.C.R.) gives expert video advice on: Can any part of the body be X-rayed?; What are the risks of X-ray radiation?; What is the difference between a low dose exam and a high dose exam? and more...

Contrast materials are materials that are either injested or injected into our body in order to allow us to differentiate various body parts and improve our ability to make diagnoses. Injested material can sometimes be used in order to, for instance, highlight the bowel. Injected medications can be used to hightlight the blood vessels or can sometimes show us tumors that would not be apparent without the iodine or other contrast material.