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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Contrast shortage update: FDA opens door for U.S. providers to order foreign-labeled Bayer contrast media

Per Bayer’s communications, the contrast agent is manufactured at the same site in Berlin, Germany as the Ultravist that is intended for U.S. markets, but due to its intended distribution abroad it lacks current FDA-approved labeling. 

Contrast shortage update: Supplies could continue to lag until September

GE previously indicated that the iodinated contrast shortage would resolve by the end of June.

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Measures associated with hospital readmission of pancreatitis patients

Beyond readmission, 32.9% of patients with increased pancreatic necrosis volumes required additional invasive interventions.

enlarged parathyroid gland

Routine CT scans offer opportunistic assessments of the parathyroid gland

Such assessments could “decrease existing diagnosis gaps,” according to a new study published in Academic Radiology. 

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Cardiologists push back on FDA’s thyroid monitoring/contrast media proposal

According to a new SCAI statement, the FDA's recommendation would result in "far-reaching consequences" across multiple specialties. 

Contrast shortage update: House Members urge President Biden to intervene

Members who signed the letter were particularly critical of the fact that the shortage is a result of COVID lockdowns in China, stating that this crisis brings to light “the urgent need to establish an outbound investment review process to ensure that critical capabilities are not being offshored ..."

Arl Van Moore, MD, American College of Radiology (ACR) delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, former ACR president, chairman of the ACR Board and former CEO of Strategic Radiology, discusses two radiology related policy decisions at the AMA 2022 meeting. These included a AMA policy on the iodine contrast shortage and AUC CDS. #AMA #AMA22 #AMAmtg #AMA175 #ACR

VIDEO: Radiology takeaways from the 2022 AMA meeting

Arl Van Moore, MD, American College of Radiology (ACR) delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates, former ACR president, chairman of the ACR Board and former CEO of Strategic Radiology, discusses radiology-related policy decisions at the AMA 2022 meeting.

ACR: FDA evidence backing thyroid monitoring in peds after ICM use is 'weak'

The ACR statement also brought to light some of the unintended consequences of the FDA’s contrast media safety warning.

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A closer look at how FDA's flurpiridaz approval will impact nuclear cardiology

The newly approved PET radiotracer is expected to improve patient care significantly. “We have been able to reach the pinnacle of myocardial perfusion imaging with flurpiridaz," one expert said.

Cardiovascular Business
'This could be a paradigm shift': How PET with newly approved flurpiridaz compares to SPECT

GE HealthCare's flurpiridaz, the PET radiotracer that recently received FDA approval, offers several key benefits over SPECT. Jamshid Maddahi, MD, discussed the details in an exclusive interview. 

Cardiovascular Business
Ultrafast myocardial contrast echocardiography shows early potential to evaluate CAD

Ultrafast MCE could go on to become a go-to treatment option for obstructive coronary artery disease, according to the authors of a new first-in-human clinical study.

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