Ferric ammonium citrate is a complex salt of indefinite composition that contains varying amounts of iron, that is obtained as red crystals or a brownish yellow powder or as green crystals or powder, and that was used formerly in medicine for treating iron-deficiency anaemia.
Solutions (e.g. corn oil emulsion) of ferric ammonium citrate (e.g., FerriSeltz, Geritol) can be used as positive oral contrast agents in MRI. Ferric ammonium citrate is safe and effective in humans, but has minor side effects.

See also Classifications, Characteristics, etc.

A solution of ferric ammonium citrate (Geritol) used to enhance the delineation of the bowel. With T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the predominantly positive enhancement helps to distinguish organs and tissues that are adjacent to the upper regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Product name found as both Ferriseltz® and FerriSeltz®.

Biphasic oral contrast agents may produce either high or low signal intensities depending on the pulse sequence used, for example low signal intensity on T1 weighted MR images and high signal intensity on T2 weighted images. The combination of different oral contrast agents can generate a macroscopic cancellation of negative and positive magnetic susceptibility, thereby eliminating susceptibility artifacts.
Possible combinations are e.g., ferric ammonium citrate and corn oil, or ferrous sulfate emulsified with baby formula. Paramagnetic agents combined with oil emulsion may be used in MRI as positive abdominal contrast agents. The combination of diamagnetic barium sulfate and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in one suspension may be a useful negative contrast agent.

See also Gastrointestinal Paramagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Diamagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Imaging.

Paramagnetic substances, for example Gd-DTPA solutions, are used as MRI oral contrast agents in gastrointestinal imaging to depict the lumen of the digestive organs. Different Gd-DTPA solutions or zeolites containing gadolinium can be used e.g., for diagnosis of delayed gastric emptying, diagnosis of Crohn's disease etc.
Low concentrations of gastrointestinal paramagnetic contrast agents cause a reduction in T1 relaxation time; consequently, these agents act on T1 weighted images by increasing the signal intensity of the bowel lumen. High concentrations cause T2 shortening by decreasing the signal, similar to superparamagnetic iron oxide. Gd-DTPA chelates are unstable at the low pH in the stomach, therefore buffering is necessary for oral use.

See also Gadopentetate Gastrointestinal, Gadolinium Zeolite, Negative Oral Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents, and Ferric ammonium citrate.

Types of oral contrast agents with positive signal enhancement:
Ideal oral contrast agents are immiscible with water, biologically inert, have a low viscosity and surface tension. Oral positive contrast agents may improve the separation of bowel loops, the detection of polyps in colon MRI or the assessment of inflammatory bowel in the small intestine. Several positive oral contrast agents are available and they are safe to use, for example gadolinium solution, ferric ammonium citrate, different oil emulsions and pediatric formula.
Unfavorably motion artifacts caused by respiration and peristalsis may be increased in MR imaging. In addition, the signal of the positive contrast medium may decrease caused by dilution in gastrointestinal (GI) secretions. With the use of contrast agents that are immiscible with water, no dilution and accompanying signal loss occur even when the contrast agent is in contact with the intraluminal contents of the GI tract. Another disadvantage may be residual substances in the bowel, resembling masses when enclosed by bright signal. In addition, positive contrast agents may have a similar signal as bright masses, which make their (e.g. lipoma) detection difficult.

See also Gastrointestinal Paramagnetic Contrast Agents, Combination Oral Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Diamagnetic Contrast Agents.