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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How common are acute kidney injuries in kids following contrast administration?

Based on the findings of a new paper in Radiology, the risks of contrast-associated acute kidney injuries are rare in kids, but age can be a protective factor.

AI is still one of the key technologies on the floor many radiologists want to learn more about. of the AI. A product rep discussing breast automated detection AI in the crowded Lunit booth at RSNA 2022.

9 technology trends and takeaways from RSNA 2022

Here are some interesting new technologies and key trends from the vast expo floor at the Radiological Society of North America 2022 meeting.

GE Healthcare program recycles departments' leftover iodinated contrast for future use

In 2006, the company started an iodine recycling program for imaging departments that had leftover contrast that would go to waste at the end of the day if left unused. That program expanded into the U.S. and Canada in 2021.

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GE Healthcare's $80 million investment furthers mission to increase contrast media production

This latest move—one of many made by GE recently—contributes to the company’s goal of upping contrast media production by an additional 30 million doses by the year 2025. 

synthetic contrast-enhanced breast MRI

Are synthetic contrast-enhanced breast MRI images as good as the real thing?

Synthesizing contrast-enhanced imaging from pre-contrast inputs using deep learning can help overcome obstacles involved in the use of GBCAs.

Iodinated contrast use before, during and after COVID: Trends predict significant growth in demand

A new analysis suggests that, if the use of iodinated contrast were to follow pre-pandemic trends, it could rise by as much as 37% from 2019. 

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GE Healthcare set to bolster supply of iodinated contrast media

These moves are part of a broader plan to increase the supply of iodine raw material, eventually enabling the production of an additional 30 million doses of iodinated contrast media annually by the year 2025. 

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Experts share positive news for women who have undergone multiple GBCA exposures during breast MRI

Authors of the new study stated that their findings are “reassuring” for both clinicians and patients.

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GE HealthCare designed the new-look Revolution Vibe CT scanner to help hospitals and health systems embrace CCTA and improve overall efficiency.

Clinicians have been using HeartSee to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease since the technology first debuted back in 2018. These latest updates, set to roll out to existing users, are designed to improve diagnostic performance and user access.

The cardiac technologies clinicians use for CVD evaluations have changed significantly in recent years, according to a new analysis of CMS data. While some modalities are on the rise, others are being utilized much less than ever before.