Summary of various parameters of RCM
Data are from American College of Radiology Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media (2017) (https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Clinical-Resources/Contrast_Media.pdf).
| RCM Generation | RCM Name | Osmolality | Iodine Content | Viscosity 25°C/37°C | Ionicity | Iodine-to-Molecule Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mOsmol/kg | mg⋅I/ml | cP or mPa⋅s | ||||
| First Generation | Iothalamate | 600–1400 | 141–282 | 2.0/1.5–6.0/4.0 | Ionic monomer | 1.5:1 |
| Diatrizoate | 1551 | 370 | 16.4/10.45 | Ionic monomer | 1.5:1 | |
| Metrizoate | 2100 | 370 | nr/4 | Ionic monomer | 1.5:1 | |
| Second Generation | Ioxaglate | 600 | 320 | 15.7/7.5 | Ionic dimer | 3:1 |
| Ioxilan | 721 | 350 | 16.3/8.1 | Nonionic monomer | 3:1 | |
| Iopromide | 328–774 | 150–370 | 2.3/1.5–22.0/10.2 | Nonionic monomer | 3:1 | |
| Ioversol | 502–792 | 240–350 | 4.6/3.0–14.3/9.0 | Nonionic monomer | 3:1 | |
| Iopamidol | 524–796 | 250–370 | 5.1/3.0–20.9/9.4 | Nonionic monomer | 3:1 | |
| Iohexol | 322–844 | 140–350 | 2.3/1.5–20.4/10.4 | Nonionic monomer | 3:1 | |
| Third Generation | Iodixanol | 290 | 270–320 | 12.7/6.3–26.6/11.8 | Nonionic dimer | 6:1 |
nr, not reported.