Diagnostic imaging rests squarely within the sights of regulators, so don't be surprised if significant rule changes relating to imaging services may be in the offing. One likely target relates to how interpretation services, including those provided via teleradiology, can be performed and billed.
University Hospital Zurich is well known for its work in PET/CT. The hospital installed one of the world's first PET/CT systems in March 2001 and currently operates two PET/CT scanners. Now radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians from around the world are being offered the chance to improve their dual-modality reading skills at this pioneering institution.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine anticipates highlights galore at its upcoming 54th annual meeting in Washington, DC. But no other topic will receive more attention this year than the continuing integration of molecular imaging into the day-to-day doings of nuclear medicine specialists. Congress even declared the week of June 3 as Molecular Imaging Week to raise awareness on the emerging field.
Autopsies have long been instrumental in documenting the cause of death from disease and crime. The procedure’s contribution to public welfare is beyond debate, but religious beliefs and family preferences have led to a decline in its use. Into this breach has stepped digital imaging in the form of CT, which lets forensic scientists investigate cases they would otherwise be prevented from working on.
Research developments showcased the future of MR last week in Berlin, as Siemens demonstrated the feasibility of creating a hybrid of this modality with PET, while GE Healthcare exhibited the potential of 3T MR in virtual colonography.
A new PET agent could help neuroimagers accurately tell the difference between the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients and those of healthy aging individuals, according to a study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Preliminary studies presented Tuesday at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine meeting in Berlin gave radiologists a glimpse of future imaging practices for cancer patients: a molecular nuclear imaging test to assess the extent of hypoxia and functional MRI to monitor the response of head and neck carcinoma to treatment.
Preliminary studies presented Tuesday gave radiologists a glimpse of future imaging practices for cancer patients: a molecular nuclear imaging test to assess the extent of hypoxia and functional MRI to monitor the response of head and neck carcinoma to treatment.
Treatment guidelines from the FDA limit the ultrasonic ablation of uterine fibroids to 50% of the lesion mass, as seen and targeted with MRI, a limitation that has raised doubts in the medical community about whether the treatment can be effective. But Dr. Phyllis Gee, medical director of the North Texas Uterine Fibroid Institute in Plano, says physicians need not be concerned about the efficacy or long-lasting effect of this treatment.
Vendors are pouring money into R&D aimed at reducing radiation dose to patients when a simpler, more immediate answer might be at hand: positioning patients correctly before scanning.
Breast cancer screening declinesMindray quarterly results rocketNeuroLogica CT spots brain hemorrhage in boxerSourceMedical lands RIS/PACS contracts
Most of the potential associated with dual-beam CT scanning, a technology developed and being solely pioneered by Siemens Medical Solutions, has been in cardiology. The applicability of this technology to other disciplines is only beginning to be explored.
Fewer than one quarter of U.S. outpatient imaging centers surveyed by the marketing research firm IMV plan to purchase any type of high-end diagnostic imaging equipment between now and 2008, a draconian measure prompted by the implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA).
FDA clears Hansen EP robotic systemToshiba nabs ultrasound contractFinal data clock in for 64-slice CT trial
NeuroLogica bridges CT gapSiemens upgrades cardiovascular ITGE adds novel CT injector to lineupEdap targets EU, Russia for HIFU salesNorth American Scientific taps new top exec
Whole-body MR imaging could complement-and, in some cases, even replace-traditional bone scanning techniques. Researchers across Europe have found that whole-body MRI has a significant impact on patient management compared with x-ray and nuclear medicine.
Multislice CT has steamed into our radiology departments like a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. In its wake, an entire support industry has sprung up to help us quench our ever-increasing thirst for more and better slices.
A portable CT scanner built by NeuroLogica will be one door away from the dressing rooms of Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. when the two middleweights duke it out May 5 at the MGM hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The dedicated head scanner will scan either or both, if physicians attending the boxers see any signs of neurological damage.
Nuclear medicine applications have boomed since PET studies secured reimbursement, and the use of hybrid modalities combining nuclear imaging with multislice CT scanning is growing. The potential for increasing radiation exposure for patients and medical workers requires beefing up radiation safety measures, according to two leading nuclear medicine experts who spoke at the 2007 National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements meeting.
Varian shares plungeBycast cuts deal with Big BlueMazor targets misplaced spinal screwsShands adds 16-slice CT
Quantitative Radiology is now part of AFP Imaging. Purchase of the Italian firm, which has installed about 500 conebeam CT scanners for dental applications over the past decade, is being framed as a coup by AFP chairman and cofounder David Vozick.
Physicians’ pursuit of the subtlest signs of cancer may be misplaced when it comes to colon cancer. Finding lesions 5 mm or smaller does not significantly reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, according to study results scheduled for the June 1 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results, published online April 23, are good news for virtual colonoscopy.
The Society of Nuclear Medicine’s campaign to guide advanced molecular imaging techniques into clinical practice has passed the halfway point in its goal of collecting $5 million to fund the effort.
N1177, an experimental contrast agent plucked from a foundering company, has researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine high on its potential for use in coronary CT angiography. The agent’s propensity to accumulate in coronary plaque rich in macrophages shows promise for identifying patients at high risk of heart attack and stroke. CT angiograms then highlight this plaque, which is especially vulnerable to rupture, putting its bearers at increased cardiovascular risk.
Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries have received United Nations aid to implement and upgrade their PET and nuclear medicine capabilities. The nuclear medicine section of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN affiliate organization, provides the assistance as part of its mandate to foster peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
