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. 

Retail mammo clinics may boost screening compliance

Women are interested in undergoing in screening mammography in a retail healthcare setting, according to a survey published in the October issue of Academic Radiology. Respondents cited proximity to home, free and convenient parking and more convenient operating hours as reasons for their preference for an alternate location.

What makes you change the way you practice?

As medical journalists, we attempt to be conscientious to try to cover the appropriate clinical studies and updates on practice management considerations from the professional societies that could have direct impact on clinical practice for physicians. However, market trends and real-life registry data show that physicians are quite hesitant to change their practice patterns, in spite of new evidence on better, safer technologies and drugs.

VA, HHS team up on telehealth pilot program

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are teaming up to expand access to healthcare for veterans living in rural areas. Private hospitals and clinics are joining VA facilities in the collaboration supported by nearly $1 million in grants.

Cancer passes heart disease as leading cause of death among U.S. Hispanics

Despite declining death rates, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death among Hispanics in the U.S., according to a report from the American Cancer Society.

NCI grants $7M to Midwest molecular imaging center

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has granted a five-year, $7.1 million grant to the Molecular Imaging Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to develop ways to study cancer and other disorders by monitoring the activity of cells and proteins inside the body.

FDA green-lights PET agent for recurrent prostate cancer detection

The FDA has approved the production and use of Choline C 11 Injection, a PET imaging agent used to help detect recurrent prostate cancer.

CHIME names state advocacy award winner

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has announced the recipient of its state advocacy award. Edward W. Marx was named the winner of the group's fourth annual award.

CT signs may predict image-occult appendicitis complications

Intraluminal air in an obstructed appendix and presence of an intraluminal appendicolith in patients with acute appendicitis provide markers of perforated or necrotic appendicitis, according to a study published in the October issue of Academic Radiology.

Around the web

Harvard’s David A. Rosman, MD, MBA, explains how moving imaging outside of hospitals could save billions of dollars for U.S. healthcare.

Back in September, the FDA approved GE HealthCare’s new PET radiotracer, flurpiridaz F-18, for patients with known or suspected CAD. It is seen by many in the industry as a major step forward in patient care. 

After three years of intermittent shortages of nuclear imaging tracer technetium-99m pyrophosphate, there are no signs of the shortage abating.