Endocrinologists are biting into radiology’s control over the management of nuclear imaging procedures involving an administration of radioiodine.

An analysis of Medicare patient procedural data by Dr. Charles .M. Intenzo, a nuclear physician at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia found that radiology’s share of procedures involving the administration of radioiodine dropped 7% from 1996 to 2007. At the same time, the number of procedures administered by endocrinologists jumped by nearly one-third (32%).

The total number of such procedures covered by Medicare Part B remained stable over the 10-year period. Medicare covered 13,273 procedures requiring radioiodine in 1996. The total in 2007 was 13,004.

Endocrinology practice revolves around a limited number of applications, so practitioners are naturally attracted to these procedures as a new source of income. Regulatory barriers to their involvement have fallen as the Department of Energy has watered down the minimum training requirements for isotope handling and administration, Intenzo said.