Medical Imaging

Physicians utilize medical imaging to see inside the body to diagnose and treat patients. This includes computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, angiography, and the nuclear imaging modalities of PET and SPECT.

Socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood linked to altered brain structure later in life, MRIs show
New MRI data highlights associations between being born into disadvantaged communities and decreased volume of multiple areas in the brain. What’s more, these findings hold true despite educational attainment and late-life income.
Interventional procedure often as effective as surgery for difficult-to-treat liver cancer
Given the complex nature of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, efforts to develop more effective methods of treating it have increased over the years.
New contrast injection system inks FDA clearance
The system can be set up in as little as two minutes and needs just 20 seconds to prime in between patients.
Deep learning reconstruction cuts prostate MRI acquisition time
And the shorter scan time does not come at the expense of image quality.
AI model spots up to 30% of breast cancers missed on MRI
Re-evaluation by the second look algorithm could result in a cancer diagnosis up to one year earlier, especially for high risk disease.

CT scan reveals Viking treasure

A 1,200-year-old Viking pot discovered in Scotland was able to hide its contents from archaeologists, until they got an assist from a hospital radiology department.

November 18, 2014

FDG PET reigns for diagnosing infected prosthetic heart valves

Infections related to heart valve prosthesis are usually diagnosed with echocardiography, but it can miss key areas of infection. It is here that FDG PET or leukocute scintigraphy can step in, but a recent comparison study of the two nuclear medicine procedures published Nov. 13 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that FDG PET may be the best option.

November 17, 2014

NorthStar snags additional $5.2M from NNSA for isotope technology

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has agreed to provide supplemental funding for NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes’ medical isotope production venture.

November 17, 2014

Ebola and radiology: Open and frequent communication among staff essential for safety

The arrival of the Ebola virus in the United States this year caught at least one medical facility off guard and has prompted officials to rethink response protocols when it comes to the highly fatal, infectious disease.

November 17, 2014

Canadian Light Source makes first shipment of medical isotopes from linear accelerator

The Saskatoon, Canada-based Canadian Light Source has reached a major benchmark in the company’s Medical Isotope Project by shipping the first major supply of isotopes, the company announced Friday. Health Canada has yet to approve it, but, with further testing, this technology could begin supplying medical isotopes to medical facilities in the region by 2016.

November 17, 2014

First-in-human trial of new serotonin receptor agent

F-18 mefway is a novel serotonin-1A receptor ligand that could one day be used to image neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric disorders, according to a story published Nov. 13 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

November 14, 2014

Lantheus reports significant third quarter growth

Lantheus Medical Imaging, based in Billerica, Mass., announced the radiopharmaceutical company’s third quarter financials yesterday, revealing an 8 percent increase over the same quarter in 2013.

November 14, 2014

New 2015 HOPPS ruling cuts into PET payments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules for the 2015 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The rules were recorded in the Federal Register Nov. 10 and go into effect Jan. 1, 2015. It appears that changes to HOPPS will depress PET payments by 1.9 percent.

November 13, 2014

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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.

Cardiovascular Business

AI-enabled plaque assessments help cardiologists ID high-risk CAD patients

AI-enabled coronary plaque assessments deliver significant value, according to late-breaking data presented at TCT. These AI platforms have gained considerable momentum in recent months, receiving expanded Medicare coverage in addition to a new Category I CPT code.

Medical Imaging

Socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood linked to altered brain structure later in life, MRIs show

Interventional procedure often as effective as surgery for difficult-to-treat liver cancer

New contrast injection system inks FDA clearance

Deep learning reconstruction cuts prostate MRI acquisition time

AI model spots up to 30% of breast cancers missed on MRI

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