Multi-head contrast media injectors offer flexible contrast media management, simplified workflows and increased patient safety.
Contrast delivery is much more controlled and efficient when using a dual-head CT power injector. These medical devices are needed to enable the short imaging times typical of multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanners.
Triple-head injectors allow selection of a second contrast agent when two different contrast agents are used, or switching to full contrast agent containers when two identical contrast agents are used.

See also Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector, Single-Head Contrast Media Injector, CT Power Injector.

Single-head contrast media injectors ('contrast only') have been first developed in the 1970s. The construction consists of a syringe with the contrast medium inserted into the injector head and a plunger to deliver the contrast medium from the syringe via tubing connected to the patient.
Injectors used in cath lab angiography are often single-head injectors using one syringe.
Angiography contrast delivery systems inject contrast agent into arteries, where air embolisms can present a serious risk. For that reason, cath lab pressure injectors should have air embolism detectors, warning of bubbles in the line before they reach a patient. Air embolisms are not a major issue for CT scans, due to the venous access any small bubbles injected into a vein are expelled through the lungs. Procedures in the interventional suite need low, variable flow rate injections.

See also Contrast Media Injector, Dual-Head CT Power Injector, CT Power Injector, Multi-Head Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector.

(CECT) Contrast agents are used during contrast enhanced computed (or computerized) tomography examinations to highlight specific tissues and parts of the body. Bones can be clearly seen on x-ray images, the visualization of some other organs and soft tissues is more difficult. Sufficient contrast is important in perceiving a difference in the density between areas of a CT image. The identification of a disease may be challenging due to very low contrast between pathological tissues (for example tumors, metastases and abscesses), normal organ structures and surrounding tissues.
Contrast agents are used in CT angiography (CTA) to delineate vessels, in multiphasic CT studies to provide dynamic information of blood supply (e.g., liver CT) and in CECT studies of various body parts to achieve opacification of tissue of interest (e.g., kidney CT) in relation to the background tissue. Contrast enhanced multi-detector row CT (MDCT) replaces several conventional diagnostic imaging methods such as intravenous urography, cholangiography, or catheter angiography, due to advanced CT studies with fast examination times, high contrast enhancement, perfusion measurement and multiplanar reformatting capabilities.
See also Contrast Media Injector, Single-Head CT Power Injector, Multi-Head Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector, CT Power Injector.

The industry standard of computed tomography (CT) contrast media power injectors changed over time from single-head to dual-head systems. The advantage of a power (or pressure) injector with two syringes is that a saline solution can be injected first to open the veins, followed by a second injection with contrast agent. Then the first head flushes the saline to maintain contrast flow. As a result, much less contrast agent is needed (about 30 percent less), helping to reduce costs. Dual-head contrast media injectors also provide greater patient safety by reducing the pressure of the flow rate, helping to prevent damage to the veins.
Contrast delivery is much more controlled and efficient when using a dual-head power injector (also called double-piston injector). Also, these medical devices are required to accommodate the quick imaging times typical for a multi-detector CT scanner.

See also Contrast Media Injector, Single-Head CT Power Injector, CT Power Injector, Multi-Head Contrast Media Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector.

Iodinated contrast media contain small amounts of free iodide. Too much free iodide in the blood may cause hyperthyroidism in patients at risk, but contrast medium induced thyrotoxicosis is rare. The free iodide may also interfere with nuclear medicine diagnostic tests and treatment. However, iodinated contrast agents do not affect thyroid function tests (e.g., T3, T4, TSH) in patients with a normal thyroid.
Guidelines were prepared by the 'Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology' and discussed on the Tenth European Symposium on Urogenital Radiology in September 2003.
Tests of thyroid function before the injection of contrast agents may only be indicated in areas with dietary iodine deficiency. Patients with Graves' disease, multinodular goiter with thyroid autonomy, especially elderly and patients who lives in areas of iodine deficiency are at risk to develop thyrotoxicosis after IV contrast medium and should be monitored by endocrinologists after contrast enhanced CT exams. Prophylaxis may offer some protection in selected high-risk individuals but is not generally recommended.
The free iodide of iodinated contrast agents interferes with thyroidal iodide uptake and impedes diagnostic thyroid scintigraphy and radio-iodine treatment of thyroid malignancies for 2 months after administration.