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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Gadolinium contrast helps radiologists’ confidence with neuroblastomas on MRI, but rarely alters care

Intravenous contrast may not be necessary for follow-up exams in certain patients with this form of cancer, a new analysis suggests.

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Radiologists find direct evidence linking gadolinium-based contrast agent to higher retention rates

Experts compared retention and elimination rates between gadoteridol, a macrocyclic GBCA, and gadobenate dimeglumine, a linear contrast agent.

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Radiologists reignite debate over the specialty's role in monitoring contrast injections

This opinion piece is the third published in JACR since the issue first popped up in March when two providers argued it may be time to reconsider rads' role in adverse events.

MRI contrast may supplant current ‘gold standard’ for assessing heart attack damage

Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging depicts heart muscle health and could more quickly inform treatment strategies.

Any further safety concerns could hinder ultrasound contrast agent delivery, manufacturer warns

North Billerica, Massachusetts-based Lantheus shared its forecast in a quarterly financial report published May 4. 

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Man facing possible prison time after administering CT contrast without license, proper training

Omayr K. Niazi, 41, holds a pharmacy technician license and is being charged with aggravated battery, forgery and wire fraud.

Death of a woman who suffered allergic reaction to CT contrast prompts inquiry

Peta Hickey, 43, was referred for an exam in 2019 as part of her company's corporate heart check program.

FDA greenlights clinical trials testing novel MRI contrast agent for prostate cancer

Case Western Reserve University developed the gadolinium material, which is expected to be tested in 30 healthy participants beginning later this month.

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Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘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.

Cardiovascular Business
FDA clears AI tool that flags signs of heart disease in chest CT scans

The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. 

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