Senior Editor, Diagnostic Imaging
Utilizing AI for Quantitative Assessment of Prostate Cancer Recurrence
August 8th 2023In a video interview, Hong Song, M.D., Ph.D., discussed retrospective research, presented at the recent Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference, that evaluated the combination of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software and the PSMA agent piflufolastat F 18 to help quantify prostate cancer lesions and associations with biochemical progression-free survival.
CMS Suspends IDR Process of No Surprises Act After Federal Court Vacates IDR Fee Increase
August 7th 2023The controversial Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process of the No Surprises Act was temporarily suspended by the CMS on August 4 due to a federal court ruling that vacated a substantial administrative fee increase and batching rule from the CMS that reportedly curtailed challenges of claim reimbursement by radiologists and other providers.
Emerging PET Radiotracer May Offer Multiple Advantages in Detecting Prostate Cancer
August 3rd 2023The PET radiotracer 18F-PSMA-1007 facilitated detection of at least one suspicious lesion for metastasis in nearly half of a cohort of 160 patients with prostate cancer, according to research presented recently at the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) conference.
CMS Approves NTAP Reimbursement for AI-Powered EchoGo Heart Failure System
August 3rd 2023In what may represent the first CMS approval of a new technology add-on payment (NTAP) for an artificial intelligence (AI)-based heart failure detection platform, use of the EchoGo Heart Failure system will be eligible for up to $1,023.75 in NTAP reimbursement per acute hospital in-patient stay as of October 1, 2023.
Emerging Concepts with ICM Reduction and Photon Counting for Coronary CT Angiography
August 2nd 2023Emerging research suggests that achieving an optimal virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) energy level with photon-counting computed tomography (CT) may allow up to a 40 percent reduction of contrast media dosing for coronary CT angiography.
Large Mammography Study Shows Significant Benefits with AI-Aided Screening
August 1st 2023Reportedly the first randomized trial to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on screening mammography, researchers found AI-aided screening led to a 20 percent increase in breast cancer detection and a 44.3 percent decrease in mammography screening workload.
Study: Combination of Ultrasound and MRI-Targeted Biopsy Enhances Detection of Prostate Cancer
July 31st 2023In a study of 413 men with suspected prostate cancer, researchers found the combination of ultrasound and multiparametric MRI-targeted biopsy with systematic biopsy diagnosed prostate cancer in 72.9 percent of patients in comparison to 60.2 percent with systematic biopsy alone.
Aidoc Launches AI-Powered Neuroimaging Software for Vessel Occlusion Detection on CT
July 31st 2023Full Brain Solution is reportedly the only artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software that facilitates detection of medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) as well as anterior and posterior large vessel occlusions (LVOs) on computed tomography (CT) exams.
Researchers Note Lack of Benefit with AI in Women with Dense Breasts
July 28th 2023In a study of over 1.300 women with dense breasts, the combination of mammography and ultrasound had a recall rate of 11.7 percent, a specificity rate of 89.1 percent and an accuracy rate of 89.2 percent in comparison to a 21.4 percent recall rate, 79.4 percent specificity and 79.5 percent accuracy for the combination of mammography, ultrasound, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Can Low-Dose CT Have an Impact in Diagnosing Bone Metastasis in Patients with Prostate Cancer?
July 27th 2023In a study of 601 patients with prostate cancer, researchers found that only one patient with extensive metastasis was falsely diagnosed as non-metastatic on whole-body, low-dose computed tomography (CT) by reviewing radiologists.
Mammography-Based Deep Learning Model May Help Detect Precancerous Changes in High-Risk Women
July 27th 2023In a dataset enriched for African American women, BRCA mutation carriers and those with benign breast disease, a mammography-based deep learning model demonstrated a five-year AUC of 63 percent for predicting breast cancer in comparison to 54 percent for BI-RADS assessment.
Study: AI Assessment of Chest CT May Predict Multiple Mortality Risks
July 26th 2023In a study of over 20,700 people, researchers found that artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of body composition measurements via lung cancer screening computed tomography (CT) exams improves the prediction of mortality risks for lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.
Meta-Analysis Compares MRI-Guided SBRT and CT-Guided SBRT for Prostate Cancer
July 24th 2023A newly published review of 29 prospective studies revealed the use of MRI-guided daily adaptive SBRT in the management of prostate cancer was associated with significantly lower risks of acute grade 2 or higher genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities in comparison to CT-guided non-adaptive SBRT.
Ultrasound-Derived Fibroid Mapping Technology Gets FDA Nod
July 24th 2023The newly FDA-cleared Fibroid Mapping Reviewer Application, which allows the creation of 3D uterus models from ultrasound images, reportedly facilitates diagnosis and interventional procedures for patients with uterine fibroids.
How Socioeconomic Disparities Affect Follow-Up of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules on CT
July 21st 2023In a study of nearly 2,500 patients with incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN) on chest computed tomography (CT) exams, 69.5 percent of those in the highest quartile of the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) had inappropriate IPN follow-up in comparison to 54.3 percent of those in the lowest quartile of the CDC SVI.
Emerging Perspectives on Amyloid PET Imaging for Alzheimer's Disease
July 21st 2023In a video interview, Jacob Dubroff, M.D., Ph.D., discussed the potential impact of the recent CMS proposal to rein in Medicare coverage restrictions on the use of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
MRI Study: Half-Dose Gadopiclenol Offers Similar Visualization and Safety as Full-Dose Gadobutrol
July 20th 2023Newly published research suggests the use of gadopiclenol at 0.05 mmol/kg is non-inferior to gadobutrol 0.1 mmol/kg for all qualitative visualization parameters on full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Can AI Bolster MRI Lesion Detection and Segmentation in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis?
July 19th 2023An artificial intelligence model, trained on MRI and FLAIR imaging from over 900 patients with multiple sclerosis, demonstrated a 96 percent accuracy rate and 99 percent specificity rate for contrast-enhancing lesions in this patient population.
CMS Proposes Lift of Coverage Restrictions on PET Imaging for Alzheimer's Disease
July 19th 2023Recognizing the advent of beta amyloid-targeted therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has proposed eliminating coverage restrictions that limit amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans to clinical trial participants and one amyloid PET scan per lifetime.
Ultra-High Resolution Brain PET: A 'Quantum Leap' for Neuroradiology
July 17th 2023In a recent interview at the SNMMI conference, Roger Lecomte, Ph.D., and Vincent Doyon discussed the advent of ultra-high resolution (UHR) brain positron emission tomography (PET), which reportedly offers double the spatial resolution of conventional PET and may facilitate earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions.
Can an Emerging System Have an Impact in Assessing Treatment Response for Prostate Cancer?
July 13th 2023Examining the use of the Response Evaluation Criteria in Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) PET/CT (RECIP 1.0) model for assessing the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, researchers found robust agreement between quantitative application of RECIP via tumor segmentation software and qualitative application of the model through reads by nuclear medicine physicians.
Study Says Photon-Counting CT Offers Better Lung Assessment than Conventional CT
July 12th 2023For conditions ranging from interstitial lung disease and post-COVID-19 complications to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) facilitates simultaneous functional and morphologic lung assessment at lower radiation dosing than conventional chest CT, according to newly published research.
The Rise of NPP Image Interpretation: What New Radiology Research Reveals
July 11th 2023In a retrospective review of over 110 million imaging claims for patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage, researchers noted key trends signaling significant increases in imaging billed by non-physician practitioners (NPPs).
Can Pre-Op MRI Staging Help Predict Prostate Cancer Recurrence after a Prostatectomy?
July 10th 2023Patients with extraprostatic extension (EPE) on pre-prostatectomy MRI had a 3.6-fold higher risk for biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer and a 25 percent lower three-year BCR-free survival rate in comparison to patients without EPE on pre-op MRI, according to newly published research.
Emerging PET Radiotracer May Improve Detection of Coronary Artery Disease in Obese Patients
July 7th 2023In a recent interview at the SNMMI conference, Krishna Patel, M.D., discussed the benefits of the PET perfusion radiotracer agent 18F-flurpiridaz and new research findings showing the agent’s increased sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing coronary artery disease in obese patients.
Ultromics Gets HCPCS Code for AI-Powered EchoGo Heart Failure Device
July 6th 2023An artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled platform that can reportedly diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) through analysis of a single echocardiogram view, the EchoGo Heart Failure now has a HCPCS code for use of the technology in outpatient settings for Medicare beneficiaries.