An anaphylactic reaction is a generalized allergic effect (also called anaphylactic shock). Allergic or anaphylactoid reactions range from sneezing, urticaria and itching, bronchospasm, facial and laryngeal edema to life-threatening symptoms including cardiovascular collapse, shock and respiratory distress.
Iodinated contrast materials are safe and widely used. However, anaphylactoid reactions occur rarely after administration of x-ray contrast agents. Most hypersensitivity symptoms appear short time after the intravenous, oral, rectal or other application (e.g., retrograde pyelography), only few are delayed by hours.
Patients with a history of allergic, asthmatic or reactions to contrast agents are at increased risk of anaphylaxis. Pre-treatment with corticosteroids and antihistamines decreases the incidence of an adverse reaction.

The Germany-based pharmaceutical company is the result of the take-over of Schering AG by Bayer AG in 2006. The Bayer Schering Pharma AG is part of the Bayer HealthCare AG, which represents the pharmaceutical part of the Bayer Group. Activities of the Bayer Schering Pharma AG are Diagnostic Imaging, Hematology & Cardiology, Oncology, Primary Care, Specialized Therapeutics and Women's Healthcare. The diagnostic imaging part's contrast agents for MRI, x-ray and CT are 'world-market leaders'.
See also Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

(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.

Contrast media injectors are part of the medical equipment used to deliver fluids in examinations such as CT, MRI, fluoroscopy and angiography. Many of these diagnostic imaging procedures include the administration of intravenous contrast agents to enhance the blood and perfusion in tissues.

Mainly there are two types of injector technology:
See also Single-Head Contrast Media Injector, Dual-Head CT Power Injector, Syringeless CT Power Injector.

The use of x-ray contrast agents in computed tomography (CT) began with a hand injection by the radiologist in the scan room. During its history, CT scanners have made great improvements in speed and image quality. Actual CT systems with multiple detectors allow scan times of a few seconds per body region. Some CT protocols require multiphase scans, where a body region is imaged with a single bolus of contrast in different blood flow phases. Automatic power (pressure) contrast media injectors are required to provide precise control of flow rate, volume and timing of injection. The use of a saline bolus following contrast administration reduces the volume of contrast required.

Most relevant topics for the use of a power injector in medical imaging procedures such as contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT):
Must have basic injector control options:
Examples of other injector control options:

A dye is usually a coloring agent. In medical imaging the term dye refers to radiopaque material used during x-ray examinations to provide or increase contrast in the different tissues and organs. Dye usually refers to intravenous contrast agents.

See also Contrast Agents.