Whole Milk an Effective Oral Contrast Agent

Whole milk has been shown to be just as effective, costing less, and easier on patients than a diluted (0.1%) barium suspension that is also typically used as an oral contrast agent in conjunction with computed tomography (CT) imaging to assess the gastrointestinal tract, a new study revealed.

The study included 215 patients undergoing abdominal and pelvic CT, according to Chi Wan Koo, M.D., from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (New York, NY, USA) and lead author of the study. All patients were given an intravenous (IV) contrast media; 115 were also given whole milk as an oral contrast agent; 100 received a 0.1% barium suspension. Two radiologists reviewed all the images and scored them based on level of bowel distension and bowel wall visibility. Adequate bowel distension is necessary to optimize resolution of the bowel wall and contents, according to Dr. Koo.

The study revealed that the images taken of patients who were given whole milk were just as useful as the images that were captured of patients given the diluted barium. "We found that milk was less expensive, it had better patient acceptance and fewer adverse symptoms,” Dr. Koo said.

Whole milk and 0.1% barium suspension are valuable in the diagnosis of small bowel disorders, such as ischemia, neoplasm, and Crohn's disease, according to Dr. Koo. They are also useful in evaluating pancreatic and biliary abnormalities.

The study was published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).


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St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center