Lipiodol Injection
FDA Label NDC 67684-1901

Lipiodol is an oil-based radio-opaque contrast agent indicated for:

• hysterosalpingography in adults
• lymphography in adult and pediatric patients
• selective hepatic intra-arterial use for imaging tumors in adults with known hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Draw Lipiodol into a glass syringe.
Use the smallest possible amount of Lipiodol according to the anatomical area to be visualized.

Hysterosalpingography

Using aseptic technique inject Lipiodol into the endometrial cavity with fluoroscopic control. Inject increments of 2 mL of Lipiodol until tubal patency is determined; stop the injection if patient develops excessive discomfort. Re-image after 24 hours to establish whether Lipiodol has entered the peritoneal cavity.

Before using Lipiodol exclude the presence of these conditions: pregnancy, uterine bleeding and endocervicitis, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, the immediate pre-or postmenstrual phase or within 30 days of curettage or conization.

Lymphography

Inject Lipiodol into a lymphatic vessel under radiologic guidance to prevent inadvertent venous administration or intravasation.

Adults:

• unilateral lymphography of the upper extremities 2 to 4 mL
• unilateral lymphography of the lower extremities 6 to 8 mL
• penile lymphography 2 to 3 mL
• cervical lymphography 1 to 2 mL

Pediatric patients:

• Inject a minimum of 1 mL to a maximum of 6 mL according to the anatomical area to be visualized. Do not exceed 0.25 mL/kg.

The following method is recommended for lymphography of the upper or lower extremities. Start the injection of Lipiodol into a lymphatic channel at a rate not to exceed 0.2 mL per minute. Inject the total dose of Lipiodol in no less than 1.25 hours. Use frequent radiologic monitoring to determine the appropriate injection rate and to follow the progress of Lipiodol within the lymphatics. Interrupt the injection if the patient experiences pain. Terminate the injection if lymphatic blockage is present to minimize introduction of Lipiodol into the venous circulation via lymphovenous channels. Terminate the injection as soon as Lipiodol is radiographically evident in the thoracic duct to minimize entry of Lipiodol into the subclavian vein and pulmonary embolization. Obtain immediate post-injection images. Re-image at 24 or 48 hours to evaluate nodal architecture.

Selective Hepatic Intra-arterial Injection

Determine the dose depending on the tumor size, local blood flow in the liver and in the tumor(s).

• Inject from 1.5 to 15 mL slowly under continuous radiologic monitoring. Stop the injection when stagnation or reflux is evident. Limit the dose to only the quantity required for adequate visualization. The total dose of Lipiodol administered should not exceed 20 mL.

Inspect Lipiodol visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration. Do not use the solution if particulate matter is present or if the container appears damaged. Lipiodol is a clear, pale yellow to amber colored oil; do not use if the color has darkened.

Draw Lipiodol into a glass syringe and use promptly. Discard any unused portion of Lipiodol.

Each milliliter of Lipiodol contains 480 mg/mL of Iodine organically combined with ethyl esters of fatty acids of poppy seed oil.

Lipiodol is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to Lipiodol, hyperthyroidism, traumatic injuries, recent hemorrhage or bleeding.

Hysterosalpingography

Lipiodol hysterosalpingography is contraindicated in pregnancy, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, marked cervical erosion, endocervicitis and intrauterine bleeding, in the immediate pre-or postmenstrual phase, or within 30 days of curettage or conization.

Lymphography

Lipiodol Lymphography is contraindicated in patients with a right to left cardiac shunt, advanced pulmonary disease, tissue trauma or hemorrhage advanced neoplastic disease with expected lymphatic obstruction, previous surgery interrupting the lymphatic system, radiation therapy to the examined area.

Selective Hepatic Intra-arterial Use Patients with HCC

Lipiodol use is contraindicated in areas of the liver where the bile ducts are dilated unless external biliary drainage was performed before injection.

Pulmonary embolism may occur immediately or after a few hours to days from inadvertent systemic vascular injection or intravasation of Lipiodol and cause decreased pulmonary diffusing capacity and pulmonary blood flow, pulmonary infarction, acute respiratory distress syndrome and fatalities. Embolization of Lipiodol to brain and other major organs may occur. Avoid use of Lipiodol in patients with severely impaired lung function, cardiorespiratory failure, or right–sided cardiac overload. Perform radiological monitoring during the Lipiodol injection. Do not exceed the recommended maximum dose and rate of injection of Lipiodol. During lymphography to minimize the risk of pulmonary embolism obtain radiographic confirmation of intralymphatic (rather than venous) injection, and terminate the procedure when Lipiodol becomes visible in the thoracic duct or lymphatic obstruction is observed.

Anaphylactoid and anaphylactic reactions with cardiovascular, respiratory or cutaneous manifestations, ranging from mild to severe, including death, have uncommonly occurred following Lipiodol administration. Avoid use in patients with a history of sensitivity to other iodinated contrast agents, bronchial asthma or allergic disorders because of an increased risk of a hypersensitivity reaction to Lipiodol. Administer Lipiodol only in situations where trained personnel and therapies are promptly available for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions, including personnel trained in resuscitation; ensure continuous medical monitoring and maintain an intravenous access line. Most hypersensitivity reactions to Lipiodol occur within half an hour after administration. Delayed reactions can occur up to several days after administration. Observe patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions during and for at least 30 minutes following Lipiodol administration.

Lipiodol hepatic intra-arterial administration can exacerbate the following conditions: portal hypertension and cause variceal bleeds due to obstruction of the intrahepatic portal channels by opening a pre sinusoidal anastomosis; hepatic ischemia and cause liver enzyme elevations, fever and abdominal pain; hepatic failure and cause ascites and encephalopathy. Hepatic vein thrombosis, irreversible liver insufficiency and fatalities have been reported. Procedural risks include vascular complications and infections.

Iodinated contrast media can affect thyroid function because of the free iodine content and can cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism in predisposed patients. Patients at risk are those with latent hyperthyroidism and those with Hashimoto thyroiditis, or history of thyroid irradiation. As Lipiodol may remain in the body for several months, thyroid diagnostic results can be affected for up to two years after lymphography.

The following adverse reactions (Table 1) have been identified during post approval use of Lipiodol. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

The following adverse reactions are described in more detail in other sections of the prescribing information:
Pulmonary and cerebral embolism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
Hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
Exacerbation of chronic liver disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]

Hysterosalpingography

Abdominal pain, foreign body reactions, exacerbation of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Lymphography

Cardiovascular collapse, lymphangitis, thrombophlebitis, edema or exacerbation of preexisting lymphedema, dyspnea and cough, fever, iodism (headache, soreness of mouth and pharynx, coryza and skin rash), allergic dermatitis, lipogranuloma, delayed healing at the site of incision.

Selective Hepatic Intra-arterial Injection

Fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are the most common reactions; other reactions include hepatic ischemia, liver enzymes abnormalities, transitory decrease in liver function, liver decompensation and renal insufficiency. Procedural risks include vascular complications and infections.

Following Lipiodol administration, ethiodized oil remains in the body for several months, and may interfere with thyroid function testing for up to two years. Ethiodized oil interferes with radioactive iodine uptake by thyroid tissue for several weeks to months and may impair visualization of thyroid scintigraphy and reduce effectiveness of iodine 131 treatment.

Pregnancy Category C

Risk Summary

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Lipiodol effects in pregnant women. Use Lipiodol during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Human Data

It is not known whether Lipiodol can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. The use of Lipiodol during pregnancy causes iodine transfer which may interfere with the thyroid function of the fetus and result in brain damage and permanent hypothyroidism. Institute thyroid function testing and careful medical monitoring of the neonate exposed to Lipiodol in utero.

Animal Data

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted using the indicated routes of administration of Lipiodol. Lipiodol was not embryotoxic or teratogenic in rats after oral administration of up to 110 mg Iodine/kg each day between gestation days 6 to 17, or in rabbits after 4-5 intermittent (once every three days) oral administrations of 12.5 mg Iodine/kg between gestation days 6 to 18.

No nonclinical lactation studies of Lipiodol have been reported.

Lipiodol is excreted in human milk. Avoid use of Lipiodol in a nursing woman because of risk of hypothyroidism in nursing infants. If breastfeeding is continued the neonate’s thyroid function should be monitored.

For lymphography use a dose of minimum of 1 mL to a maximum of 6 mL according to the anatomical area to be visualized. Do not exceed 0.25 mL/kg. Administer the smallest possible amount of Lipiodol according to the anatomical area to be visualized.

There are no studies conducted in geriatric patients.

Prior to an intra-arterial administration of Lipiodol screen all patients for renal dysfunction by obtaining history and/or laboratory tests. Consider follow-up renal function assessments for patients with a history of renal dysfunction.

Overdose may lead to respiratory, cardiac or cerebral complications, which can potentially be fatal. Microembolisms to multiple organs may occur more frequently after overdose. Promptly initiate symptomatic treatment and support of vital functions.

Lipiodol, ethiodized oil injection, is a sterile injectable radio-opaque agent. Each milliliter contains 480 mg of Iodine organically combined with ethyl esters of fatty acids of poppy seed oil. The precise structure of Lipiodol is unknown.

Lipiodol is a sterile, clear, pale yellow to amber colored oil. Lipiodol has a viscosity of 34 – 70 mPa·s at 20°C, and a density of 1.28 g/cm³ at 20°C.

Ethiodized oil is an iodinated poppy seed oil based contrast agent.

Following intra-arterial administration of Lipiodol, ethiodized oil retained in normal hepatic parenchyma is phagocytized by the Kupffer cells of the liver and washed out via the hepatic lymphatic system in about 2 to 4 weeks. In HCC, retention in the liver tumor is prolonged, allowing re-imaging of the tumor for four weeks or longer.

Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential, or whether Lipiodol can affect fertility in males or females. Lipiodol did not demonstrate mutagenic potential in bacterial reverse mutation assays (in vitro), in a chromosomal aberration test in the mouse lymphoma assay (in vitro), and was negative in an in vivo micronucleus test in rats after intravenous injection of 479 mg I/kg.

Lipiodol is supplied in a box of one 10 mL ampoule, NDC 67684-1901-1.

Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F) [see USP, Controlled Room Temperature (CRT)]. Protect from light. Remove from carton only upon use.