Nonionic monomers are used as x-ray contrast agents. To create a nonionic monomer, the tri-iodinated benzene ring is made water soluble by the addition of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups to organic side chains (CM ratio=3). Nonionic monomers have an intermediate osmolarity, intermediate viscosity and elevated hydrophilicity with three atoms of iodine per molecule. Lacking a carboxyl group, nonionic monomers do not ionize in solution. A nonionic monomer is potentially less chemotoxic than an ionic monomer.
Common nonionic monomers are iohexol (Omnipaque), iopamidol (Isovue®), ioversol (Optiray®), and iopromide (Ultravist®). Nonionic monomers are contrast agents with a wide range of indications due to their nonionic nature and lower osmolalities.

Sinografin® (diatrizoate meglumine and iodipamide meglumine) is a contrast agent indicated for use in hysterosalpingography. Intrauterine used contrast agents have few known pharmacological effects. Most of the medium within the uterine cavity is discharged immediately after finishing of the procedure and the contrast medium retained is completely absorbed.

Syringeless CT power injectors (also called pressure injectors) have been developed as a solution to reduce contrast fluid waste. The Joint Commission does not allow the reuse of unused cans from disposable syringes, so the syringeless option allows facilities to use contrast media as efficiently as possible.
A syringeless CT (computed tomography) contrast media injector permits delivery to be made directly from standard contrast media bottles, featuring multi-dosing and programmable automatic saline flush. This higher loading capacity for contrast agent ( up to two contrast bottles or 1000 ml) and a bag of saline at initial setup, enables to perform multiple contrast enhanced CT scans without reloading contrast agent; resulting in increased efficiency and less waste.

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

Viscosity is measured in centipoise (cP). The viscosity of water at 20° C is approximately 1 cP. Viscosity depends on temperature, size and shape of the dissolved particle.
The viscosity of contrast agents is an important factor in diagnostic imaging procedures like angiography and other studies where the injection rate can be of critical importance. Warming the contrast agent to body temperature may achieve higher flow rates. Contrast media are approximately twice as viscous at 20° C as at body temperature.

A computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen images the region from the thoracic diaphragm to the pelvic groin. The computed tomography technique uses x-rays to differentiate tissues by their different radiation absorption rates.
Oral contrast material can be given to opacify the bowel before scanning. An i.v. injection of a contrast agent (x-ray dye) improves the visualization of organs like liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys and provides additional information about the blood supply.
Spiral- or helical CT, including improvements in detector technology support faster image acquisition with higher quality. Advanced CT systems can usually obtain a CT scan of the whole abdomen during a single breath hold. This speed increases the detection of small lesions (caused by differences in breathing on consecutive scans) and is beneficial especially in pediatric, elderly or critically-ill patients.
Changes in patient weight require variations in x-ray tube potential to maintain constant detector energy fluence. An increased x-ray tube potential improves the contrast to noise resolution (CNR).

An abdominal CT is typically used to help diagnose the cause of abdominal pain and diseases such as:
Other indications for CT scanning of the abdomen/pelvis include planning radiation treatments, guide biopsies and other minimally invasive procedures. Advanced techniques include for example 3D CT angiography, multiphasic contrast-enhanced imaging, virtual cystoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, CT urography and CT densitometry.

See also Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography.