The modality switch became especially important during the iodinated contrast shortage of 2022 when clinics were forced to deploy mitigation tactics as a means of preserving their contrast supply. 

Although gadolinium-based contrast agents are largely considered safe and are routinely used for MRI exams, experts suggest that providers should still utilize GBCAs sparingly for musculoskeletal studies.

In alliance with Polarean, Philips is rolling out a new MR system with advanced multi-nuclei imaging capabilities that will offer radiologists a detailed evaluation of lung ventilation using xenon gas as a contrast agent.

The ACR Manual on Contrast Media suggests that highly viscous ICM should be warmed to body temperature prior to administration when using high-rate intravenous low-osmolality power injections, viscous iodinated CM, small-caliber catheters, or for timed studies looking at peak enhancement.   

The ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media stated that exposure to the gadolinium-based contrast agent represents a “sufficiently low or possibly nonexistent” risk to patients.

The new data highlight a potential pitfall of unenhanced CT scans on patients presenting to emergency departments with acute pain—an inaccurate workup.

The update marks a change from the FDA's stance on the topic last year.

New research compares peak enhancement timing of a patient-specific post-trigger delay and a fixed delay during CCTA.