The authors compared ioversol 300 and iopromide 300 (ioversol 41 patients, iopromide 38 patients) in a randomized double blind study conducted on 79 patients undergoing abdominal computed tomography (CT) for a variety of indications. Each study was rated as diagnostic or non-diagnostic and the image quality was recorded. All side-effects were recorded. There was no significant difference in image quality and side-effects between both contrasts. In this study, both ioversol and iopromide provided excellent image quality and a low rate of side-effects. The authors conclude that ioversol is a safe and effective non ionic contrast agent for contrast enhanced body CT.