Iodopyracet (Diodrast) Injection for Orbital Tumors

Most roentgenologists will agree that iodopyracet (Diodrast) should be the safest radiopaque medium for retrobulbar injections.* It is commonly used in cardiography and pyelography. However, one should keep in mind the dangers of this compound, which contains 50% iodine.¹Venospasm, sclerosing lipogranuloma, tissue slough, and occasional deaths have been reported with its use in various branches of medicine.† In 1952 we performed experiments with orbital injection of iodopyracet in animals.⁴The dye produced excellent outlines of the muscle cone, Tenon's episcleral space, and the peripheral surgical space of rabbits. Neoprene latex tumors could be easily diagnosed and localized with these orbitograms. However, there resulted frequent injury to the eye and orbital tissues from such injections. One cubic centimeter of 35% iodopyracet in the muscle cone of rabbits (roughly comparable to 5 cc. in man⁵) appeared to be the best amount for clear visualization of the normal structures.