Routine CT imaging may not show the extent of derangement of an initial head impact injury and a normal head CT does not preclude the need for close clinical follow-up after head injury, according to a case report of second impact syndrome (SIS), published Jan. 1 in Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.

Patient knowledge and understanding of radiation from diagnostic imaging is lacking, according to a research letter published online Dec. 31, 2012, in JAMA Internal Medicine. More than half of patients surveyed heard nothing in the media about radiation from medical imaging, and many of those aware of radiation exposure substantially underestimated dose.

Children who present to community hospitals with suspected appendicitis are much more likely than those who present to children’s hospitals to undergo preoperative CT imaging, according to a study published in this month's issue Pediatrics. Researchers called for strategies to streamline pediatric appendicitis evaluation and minimize radiation exposure.

Congress has passed the American Medical Isotope Production Act of 2011 (S. 99) by passing it out of the Senate by unanimous consent and and referring it to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. It will be included in the Conference Agreement for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.

After prostatectomy, prostate cancer patients with a short prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time should undergo [11C]choline PET/CT for early restaging to optimize potentially needed salvage therapy, according to a study published in the January issue of Journal of Urology.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed removing the national noncoverage decision for PET for FDA-approved oncologic applications. If the decision is finalized, local Medicare Administrative Contractors may determine coverage for new oncologic agents within their respective jurisdictions for PET.

Clinicians provided with one hour of focused training in the use of ultrasound to diagnose pneumonia in children were able to diagnose the condition with high specificity, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Bryan Medical Center has purchased 13 Carestream DRX-1 Systems and two Carestream DRX-Mobile Retrofit Kits to streamline workflow and enhance patient care at the system’s hospital and its two outpatient imaging centers.