Imaging Contrast

Contrast agents are injected into patients to help enhance images to make it easier for radiologists distinguish specific areas of the body from surrounding tissues. The most commonly used agents are iodinated contrast dye for computed tomography (CT), interventional cath lab angiography,  RF fluoroscopy, and in surgical OR procedures. MRI scans typically use gadolinium-based contrast agents. Ultrasound and echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound) imaging use contrast agents composed of microscopic bubbles to enhance images that otherwise would be suboptimal.

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New scoring system spots patients at risk of contrast-associated kidney injury

Mount Sinai doctors presented their simple system during the American Heart Association's annual meeting.

Noncontrast CT a cost-friendly alternative to select late-stroke patients for thrombectomy

Using CT resulted in similar clinical and safety outcomes compared to advanced imaging, such as MRI and CT perfusion.

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Warming up CT contrast agents raises radiology department costs and few clinical benefits

Checking the temperature of warming devices and maintaining equipment may not be entirely necessary, new research suggests.

AI combining contrast-enhanced and non-contrast CT accurately identifies brain metastases

The platform utilizing both image types detected cancer with a positive predictive value of 44%, beating out a contrast-only approach.

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Delayed-phase contrast-CT scans can help detect early pancreatic cancers, study shows

Given pancreatic cancer is aggressive and challenging to treat, early detection is key to a positive prognosis, researchers explained.

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AI carries ‘enormous potential’ to transform cardiac MRI, reduce scan times without using contrast

Virtual native enhancement produces higher quality scans compared to traditional modalities but without gadolinium-enhancement required.

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AI automates radiologists’ decision to perform prostate MRI scans with or without contrast

Ideally, clinicians could weigh the pros and cons for each exam, but time is typically at a premium for radiology departments flooded with prostate scan requests.

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Fewer than 2% of patients know which imaging contrast caused their allergic reaction

Providers share some of the blame, and should provide patients with written documentation of the offending contrast material, experts argued in Clinical Imaging.

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Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

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‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.