Liver-Specific X-Ray Contrast Agents

Abstract

Although the search for tissue-specific, in particular liver-specific, X-ray contrast agents has been the focus of extensive research efforts, no product is currently widely available. However, in recent years several approaches have reached the stage of clinical tests nourishing considerable hope that in the near future liver-specific agents will successfully be developed. The present chapter reviews the different classes of contrast agents, both the successful ones and the failures, and presents the status of achievements in this field of research and development. Included are hepatocyte-directed and Kupffer cell-targeted substances, iodine-containing and iodine-free compounds, water-soluble and particulate agents.