Van Cauteren T, et al. - During a cardiac CT scan, researchers studied the contributing effect of contrast media (CM) iodine dose on radiation-induced DNA damage in blood lymphocytes. The minipigs have been exposed to a fixed cardiac CT scan protocol 12 times in total. Consideration was given to an unenhanced and two CM injection protocols, the latter with 50% diluted saline (160 mg I/mL) and standard iodixanol. During a cardiac CT examination, CM administration significantly increases DNA damage in blood lymphocytes caused by radiation. In addition, a lower dose of CM iodine leads to a reduced level of DNA damage at constant exposure to radiation.