Lipiodol
Encyclopedia
Lipiodol also known as ethiodized oil is a poppyseed oil
used by injection
as a radio-opaque contrast agent that is used to outline structures in radiological investigations. It is used in chemoembolization applications as a contrast agent in follow-up imaging. Lipiodol is also used in lymphangiography
, the imaging of the lymphatic system
. It has an additional use in gastric variceal obliteration
as a dilutant that does not affect polymerization of cyanoacrylate
.
Recently there has been an increasing interest in the use of Lipiodol as a therapeutic agent in the management of unexplained infertility
, using a procedure called Lipiodol flushing. There have been a small number of studies that suggest that flushing the media through the tubes gives a short-term rise in fecundity in patients with unexplained infertility. A systematic review has suggested a significant increase in fertility, especially in those women who have endometriosis
when using Lipiodol flushing.
Historically Lipiodol was often used as a contrast medium at hysterosalpingography
(HSG: a procedure to determine tubal patency, used in the investigation of subfertility). It became less commonly utilised in the 1960s to 1980s because the more modern water-soluble media give images that are easier to interpret. There is also an important safety issue with Lipiodol in that intravasation (leakage) of the fluid into the venous system has caused complications
in the past.
Ethiodized oil is composed of iodine
combined with ethyl esters of fatty acid
s of poppyseed oil
, primarily as ethyl monoiodostearate and ethyl diiodostearate. The precise structure is not known.
Lipiodol was first synthesized by Marcel Guerbet in the Paris School of Pharmacy in 1901. Historically, Lipiodol was the first iodinated contrast agent (used for myelography by two French physicians, Jacques Forestier and Jean Sicard in 1921).
Lipiodol is now solely produced and marketed by Guerbet
since Savage Laboratories
discontinued manufacturing in 2010.
Poppyseed oil
Poppyseed oil is an edible oil from poppy seeds . The oil has culinary and pharmaceutical uses, as well as long established uses in the making of paints, varnishes, and soaps.Poppy seeds yield 45–50% oil...
used by injection
Injection (medicine)
An injection is an infusion method of putting fluid into the body, usually with a hollow needle and a syringe which is pierced through the skin to a sufficient depth for the material to be forced into the body...
as a radio-opaque contrast agent that is used to outline structures in radiological investigations. It is used in chemoembolization applications as a contrast agent in follow-up imaging. Lipiodol is also used in lymphangiography
Lymph node
A lymph node is a small ball or an oval-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely throughout the body including the armpit and stomach/gut and linked by lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are garrisons of B, T, and other immune cells. Lymph nodes are found all through the body, and act as...
, the imaging of the lymphatic system
Lymphatic system
The lymphoid system is the part of the immune system comprising a network of conduits called lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph unidirectionally toward the heart. Lymphoid tissue is found in many organs, particularly the lymph nodes, and in the lymphoid follicles associated...
. It has an additional use in gastric variceal obliteration
Gastric varices
Gastric varices are dilated submucosal veins in the stomach, which can be a life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. They are most commonly found in patients with portal hypertension, or elevated pressure in the portal vein system, which may be a complication of cirrhosis...
as a dilutant that does not affect polymerization of cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for cyanoacrylate based fast-acting adhesives such as methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate , and n-butyl cyanoacrylate...
.
Recently there has been an increasing interest in the use of Lipiodol as a therapeutic agent in the management of unexplained infertility
Unexplained infertility
Unexplained infertility is infertility that is idiopathic in the sense that its cause remains unknown even after an infertility work-up, usually including semen analysis in the man and assessment of ovulation and fallopian tubes in the woman.-Possible causes:...
, using a procedure called Lipiodol flushing. There have been a small number of studies that suggest that flushing the media through the tubes gives a short-term rise in fecundity in patients with unexplained infertility. A systematic review has suggested a significant increase in fertility, especially in those women who have endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
when using Lipiodol flushing.
Historically Lipiodol was often used as a contrast medium at hysterosalpingography
Hysterosalpingography
Hysterosalpingography is a radiologic procedure to investigate the shape of the uterine cavity and the shape and patency of the fallopian tubes. It entails the injection of a radio-opaque material into the cervical canal and usually fluoroscopy with image intensification...
(HSG: a procedure to determine tubal patency, used in the investigation of subfertility). It became less commonly utilised in the 1960s to 1980s because the more modern water-soluble media give images that are easier to interpret. There is also an important safety issue with Lipiodol in that intravasation (leakage) of the fluid into the venous system has caused complications
Complication (medicine)
Complication, in medicine, is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, a health condition or a medical treatment. The disease can become worse in its severity or show a higher number of signs, symptoms or new pathological changes, become widespread throughout the body or affect other organ systems. A...
in the past.
Ethiodized oil is composed of iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
combined with ethyl esters of fatty acid
Fatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
s of poppyseed oil
Poppyseed oil
Poppyseed oil is an edible oil from poppy seeds . The oil has culinary and pharmaceutical uses, as well as long established uses in the making of paints, varnishes, and soaps.Poppy seeds yield 45–50% oil...
, primarily as ethyl monoiodostearate and ethyl diiodostearate. The precise structure is not known.
Lipiodol was first synthesized by Marcel Guerbet in the Paris School of Pharmacy in 1901. Historically, Lipiodol was the first iodinated contrast agent (used for myelography by two French physicians, Jacques Forestier and Jean Sicard in 1921).
Lipiodol is now solely produced and marketed by Guerbet
Guerbet
Guerbet is a research-centered pharmaceutical company based in France that is one of the major players in the contrast agents business.The company's main products are:* Xenetix - X-ray contrast agent marketed mainly in Europe;...
since Savage Laboratories
Savage Laboratories
Savage Laboratories is a pharmaceutical research company based in Melville, New York. It is a division of the German company Altana's American subsidiary, Altana Inc...
discontinued manufacturing in 2010.