造影剤(ぞうえいざい)

ぞうえいざい
noun
contrast agent; contrast medium (for medical imaging)
formalhealthscience
1. contrast agent; contrast medium
A substance administered before or during a medical imaging procedure (X-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound) to make certain tissues or blood vessels show up more clearly on the resulting images. Common examples include iodine-based agents for X-ray/CT and gadolinium-based agents for MRI.
検査(けんさ)の前(まえ)に造影剤(ぞうえいざい)を注射(ちゅうしゃ)した。
Before the exam, they injected a contrast agent.
造影剤(ぞうえいざい)を使(つか)うと血管(けっかん)がはっきり写(うつ)る。
Using a contrast agent makes the blood vessels show up clearly.
造影剤(ぞうえいざい)に対(たい)するアレルギーがある方(かた)は、事前(じぜん)にお申(もう)し出(で)ください。
If you have an allergy to contrast agents, please let us know in advance.

Composed of 造影(ぞうえい) ("producing an image," from 造(つく)る + 影(えい), originally "making a shadow" for X-ray imaging) + 剤(ざい) ("agent, preparation"). A standard medical term encountered in hospitals, on consent forms, and in health-insurance paperwork.

Usage

  • Administered by injection, oral ingestion, or (for some imaging) by enema, depending on the exam.
  • Patients are typically asked about kidney function and allergies before administration, since contrast agents can provoke allergic reactions and iodine-based agents are processed by the kidneys.
  • 造影(ぞうえい) alone is also used as a verb-forming element: 造影(ぞうえい)する, "to perform contrast imaging."

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 検査(けんさ) (examination, test)
Related: 副作用(ふくさよう) (side effect)
Related: アレルギー (allergy)
Related: 注射(ちゅうしゃ) (injection)
general
Added 2026.4.13 6:20 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
23500/23619_zoueizai