indication

For use as a radio-opaque medium for hysterosalpingography and lymphography, and as an antineoplastic agent when part of the iodine is 131-I. It is also used in follow-up imaging for chemoembolization.

pharmacology

There has been little detailed investigation of the metabolic fate of ethiodized oil in either man or animals. However, the fate of ethiodized oil following Iymphangiography in dogs has been reported. Koehler et al. employed I¹³¹-tagged ethiodol for lymphangiography in dogs and analyses of individual organs at various time intervals were done. The investigators reported an average of only 25% of the injected medium was retained in the lymphatics at the end of three days. An average of 50% was recovered from the lungs. They found the remainder of injected activity was fairly uniformly distributed throughout the body. Urinary excretion in the form of inorganic iodine was revealed as the chief mode of iodine loss from the system.

mechanism of action

Ethiodized oil is selectively retained in tumor vessels for long periods, and is used for imaging organs such as liver, lung, stomach, and thyroid. Labeled with I-131 or other beta emitters (Y-90 or P-32), ethiodized oil can deliver a high internal radiation dose to certain tumors with minimal effect on healthy tissues.

toxicity

Intravenous LD50 in dog is 1580mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include dyspnea and change in clotting factors.

route of elimination

Urinary excretion in the form of inorganic iodine was revealed as the chief mode of iodine loss from the system.