Contrast agents, also known as contrast media, are often used
during medical imaging examinations to highlight specific parts
of the body and enhance their contrast. Contrast agents can help
detect diseases earlier and more precisely. Moreover, they can
provide relevant diagnostic information that physicians are
otherwise frequently unable to obtain without using invasive
methods. They thus play a crucial part in guiding, monitoring
and following up treatment. Contrast agents can be used with
many types of imaging examinations, including X-ray and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI). They use different mechanisms depending
on the underlying imaging technique. Fig. 1: Dual Source CT:
contrast agents make it possible to visualize the inflamed area
around the phalangeal joints of a gout patient. (Courtesy of
Christoph Becker, LMU Munich) X-ray contrast media Whereas bony
structures of the body can easily be imaged using classic X-ray
techniques or computed tomography, distinctions between soft
tissues are often muc