Oncology Imaging

Medical imaging has become integral to cancer care, assessing the stage and location of cancerous tumors. By utilizing powerful imaging modalities including CT, MRI, MRA and PET/CT, oncology imaging radiologists are able to assist referring physicians in the detection and diagnosis of cancer.

IOM issues clinical practice guidelines

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released two reports that recommend standards for developing systematic reviews and promoting clinical practice guidelines.

CEA-Leti to develop nuclear, optical tracer

In collaboration with four French partners, health IT research company CEA-Leti has launched a project to develop a PET tracer incorporating the companys patented Lipidot nano-carrier, which would function for both pre-operative nuclear imaging and intraoperative optical imaging of cancers.

Fujifilm submits digital mammo for FDA clearance

Fujifilm Medical Systems has submitted its new Aspire HD full-field digital mammography (FFDM) system application to the FDA for 510(k) marketing clearance.

Study: Hydro-stomach CT inherently poor at cancer detection

CT fails to reliably depict early gastric cancers in patients ingesting water as a distending contrast agent, as four-fifths of cancers went undetected by gastrointestinal radiologists who experienced no significant improvements in detection even after being made were aware of patients cancers, reported a study published Feb. 28 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

AIM: Positive AMI outcomes linked with organizational values

Evidence-based protocols and processesalthough importantmay not be sufficient for achieving high hospital performance in care for patients with acute MI (AMI). Rather, clear values and goals to be the best play an important role, according to a qualitative study that appears in the March 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

JNCI: Radiotherapy + tamoxifen cuts invasive breast cancer recurrence in half

Across a 15-year study of more than 2,600 women who underwent lumpectomies for breast cancer, radiation therapy cut the likelihood of invasive ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (I-IBTR) in half, while taking tamoxifen reduced I-IBTR by an additional 32 percent, according to a study published March 16 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

AHA: Hospital costs rise 5% in last decade

Factors such as labor expenditures, shortfalls in reimbursement and health IT related costs are major drivers in hospital price increases over the past decade. Hospital costs have increased by almost 5 percent per year from 2000 to 2009, according to a report published this month that was sponsored by the American Hospital Association (AHA).

ACR asks for your vote

The American Medical Association is holding a vote to distribute seats between medical specialties within the organizations House of Delegates, and the American College of Radiology (ACR) is pushing its members to vote for the ACR to represent the interests of radiology and its subspecialties.

Around the web

RBMA President Peter Moffatt discusses declining reimbursement rates, recruiting challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the industry.

Deepak Bhatt, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and principal investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, explains an emerging technique for cardiac screening: combining coronary CT angiography with artificial intelligence for plaque analysis to create an approach similar to mammography.

A total of 16 cardiology practices from 12 states settled with the DOJ to resolve allegations they overbilled Medicare for imaging agents used to diagnose cardiovascular disease.