Contrast agents to improve gastrointestinal tract opacification during abdominal and pelvic CT scans

A method of imaging a portion of a body of a patient, the method comprising:

• (A) administering (i) about 100 cc to about 1500 cc of an iso-osmotic agent and (ii) a positive contrast agent to the patient, wherein the iso-osmotic agent administered to the patient comprises a mixture of polyethylene glycol and electrolytes, and wherein the positive contrast agent is selected from the group consisting of an iodine-based contrast agent and a barium-based contrast agent;
• (B) distending at least the small bowel of the patient with the iso-osmotic agent and the positive contrast;
• (C) administering a positive contrast agent intravenously to the patient;
• and
• (D) obtaining a plurality of successive images by computed tomography of the portion of the patient's body after the iso-osmotic agent and the positive contrast agent are administered and while the small bowel is distended throughout substantially its entirety by the iso-osmotic agent and the positive contrast agent, wherein the positive contrast agent improves the obtained images.