Palatability as well as the side effects and computed tomographic image quality associated with the oral use of Telebrix Gastro (ioxithalamate) and Gastrografin (amidotrizoate) in bowel opacification were compared in a double-blind study involving 100 patients in a 24-hour protocol. There was a tendency (p = 0.07) for Telebrix Gastro to show greater palatability. The difference between the 2 groups in terms of patient discomfort was too small to reach statistical significance (p less than 0.09). There was no statistical difference between the agents with respect to image quality. In 87% of cases in both groups bowel filling was adequate.