CT medium circulates in blood pool

Photogen Technologies is testing a contrast agent that stays in the vascular system for at least 20 minutes with little diffusion outside. If tests pan out, the experimental agent, which has been tested only in animals, could serve as both a perfusion and blood pool agent. Preclinical studies indicate that the proprietary agent, called PH-50, has potential in coronary, cardiac, great vessel, and renal arterial CT. Through luminaries at Stanford University, the New Hope, PA, company also hopes to explore the use of this agent as a means for imaging soft noncalcified plaques in coronary arteries, where its presence is a marker of likelihood to rupture and cause sudden death.