Evaluation of contrast media for bronchography

Historical Perspective of Imaging Contrast Agents

Contrast agents were introduced early in the history of medical imaging. Iodine-based intravascular agents became the radiographic compounds of choice and refinements of their chemical structures led to the highly tolerated low-osmolarity agents in use today. Gadolinium became the most popular compound for MR imaging; however, recognition of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and in vivo dechelation intensified research on their safety profile. Ultrasonography contrast media evolved from manual injections of air through agitated saline solutions to microbubbles with different gases. Research has concentrated on bubble stabilization and development of small but sufficiently echogenic particles.

The effect of aspirated barium sulfate, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on survival and lung injury in a lagomorph model

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Contrast agents are an integral component of the video fluoroscopic swallow study. Agents commonly used include barium sulfate (E-Z Paque), iodixanol (Visipaque), and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Barium is water insoluble, whereas iodixanol and diatrizoic acid are water-soluble iodine-based agents. The detrimental effect of these agents on the lungs has not been systematically evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of aspirated barium, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on pulmonary injury in a lagomorph model.

STUDY DESIGN

Animal model.

METHODS

Twenty adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into four groups (n = 5). Group 1 received 3 mL of barium sulfate injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 2 received 3 mL of iodixanol injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 3 received 3 mL of diatrizoic acid injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. A control group received 3 mL of air injected into the trachea under an identical protocol. All animals were euthanized on day 4, and the lung and trachea were harvested for blinded histopathologic analysis. The primary outcome measure was survival. The secondary endpoint was a blinded, histologic grading system of lung injury.

RESULTS

Two animals in the barium group, one in the diatrizoic acid group, and 0 animals in the iodixanol and control groups died. The overall lung injury score for the barium (60.60 ± 6.34) and iodixanol groups (52.30 ± 3.11) were significantly higher (worse) than the diatrizoic acid (49.60 ± 7.64) and control groups (37.80 ± 3.56) (P < .05). Diatrizoic acid produced the least amount of lung injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that 3 mL of aspirated barium sulfate (E-Z Paque) over 3 consecutive days causes more severe lung injury in a lagomorph model than 3 mL of aspirated iodixanol (Visipaque) and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Diatrizoic acid caused the least histologic evidence of lung injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 127:E148-E152, 2017.

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic localization of pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using barium suspension

Objective

To describe our initial experience with CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of small pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Materials and Methods

From October 2010 to April 2011, 10 consecutive patients (4 men and 6 women; mean age, 60 years) underwent CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of 10 small pulmonary nodules (mean size, 7.6 mm; range, 3-14 mm): 6 pure ground-glass nodules, 3 part-solid nodules, and 1 solid nodule. A 140% barium sulfate suspension (mean amount, 0.2 mL; range, 0.15-0.25 mL) was injected around the nodules with a 21-gauge needle. The technical details, surgical findings and pathologic features associated with barium localizations were evaluated.

Results

All nodules were marked within 3 mm (mean distance, 1.1 mm; range, 0-3 mm) from the barium ball (mean diameter, 9.6 mm; range, 8-16 mm) formed by the injected barium suspension. Pneumothorax occurred in two cases, for which one needed aspiration. However, there were no other complications. All barium balls were palpable during VATS and visible on intraoperative fluoroscopy, and were completely resected. Both the whitish barium balls and target nodules were identifiable in the frozen specimens. Pathology revealed one invasive adenocarcinoma, five adenocarcinoma-in-situ, two atypical adenomatous hyperplasias, and two benign lesions. In all cases, there were acute inflammations around the barium balls which did not hamper the histological diagnosis of the nodules.

Conclusion

CT-guided percutaneous barium marking can be an effective, convenient and safe pre-operative localization procedure prior to VATS, enabling accurate resection and diagnosis of small or faint pulmonary nodules.

Estudo comparativo dos meios de contraste baritado e iodado-iônico e não-iônico no trato respiratório de ratos

OBJETIVO: Durante estudos radiológicos pode ocorrer a passagem do meio de contraste para a árvore traqueo-brônquica, determinando reações adversas e até fatais. O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer as alterações desencadeadas no trato respiratório pela presença do meio de contraste. MÉTODOS: Utilizaram-se 91 ratos divididos, aleatoriamente, em 4 grupos. Um grupo de controle não manipulado com 7 animais e os demais grupos com 21 ratos. O grupo controle manipulado recebeu solução fisiológica e os grupos de experimento: bário, iodo ônico e iodo não iônico conforme o grupo a que pertenciam. Sob anestesia e visibilização direta da traquéia, injetou-se 0,75 ml/kg (0,25 ml) do meio de contraste de acordo com o grupo ao qual pertencesse o animal. Realizaram-se as aferições com 1 hora, 1 dia e 1 semana. Os ratos foram sorteados para a autanásia nos três tempos estudados. Fez-se documentação radiográfica seguida da ressecção dos pulmões e exame histo-patológico. RESULTADOS: Na primeira hora, no grupo que recebeu bário, os campos médios e o superior direito ficaram acometidos. Nos grupos que receberam iodo iônico e iodo não iônico, todo o pulmão direito mostrava-se opacificado. Nas avaliações de uma dia e 1 semana os grupos que receberam iodo estavam normais enquanto que o grupo que recebeu bário mostrava comprometimento dos campos médios. No estudo histo-patológico observou-se, no grupo que recebeu bário, na avaliação de uma semana, grande quantidade de macrófagos intra-alveolares, perivasculares e peribrônquicos. CONCLUSÃO: Os contrastes iodados iônico e não iônico levam a alterações passageiras enquanto que o bário promove reação inflamatória crônica com manutenção da tradução radiográfica, no rato.

Fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking

BACKGROUND

Small lesions of the peripheral lung have been detected more frequently with the recent prevalence of computed tomography (CT). Identification of these lesions is indispensable for wedge resection performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Previous reports of marking techniques showed some failure and complications. We have developed a new marking technique and herein describe the efficacy of this technique: fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking.

METHODS

Twenty patients underwent this procedure for 21 small peripheral pulmonary lesions approximately 10 mm in size.

RESULTS

All the lesions were successfully marked and identified during fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopy. They were resected with sufficient margins. There were no complications related to this procedure. The pathologic examination of these 21 lesions revealed primary lung cancer in 14, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in four, a metastatic tumor in one, and a benign tumor in two.

CONCLUSIONS

This procedure is both a reliable and minimally invasive technique in thoracoscopic wedge resection for small peripheral pulmonary lesions.