Foreign bodies in contrast media for angiography

Commercially available soluble contrast media for angiography were investigated for particulate contamination by a technique involving scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX). The investigation revealed a number of particles (up to 3 x 10(5)) in 20 ml of contrast medium in many different shapes, in the size range from 0.5 micrometer to 50 micrometer and, in some instances, up to 450 micrometer. The EDAX analysis disclosed elements such as silicon, iodine, chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, aluminum, calcium, chlorine, sodium, potassium and zinc in the particles.