Oncology CT

Citing “insufficient” evidence, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has declined a formal request by the American College of Radiology and multiple patient advocacy groups to reevaluate the lack of Medicare and Medicaid coverage of computed tomography colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer screening.

The addition of Biodesix’s Nodify Lung nodule risk assessment tool to Philips’ lung cancer patient management system may enhance diagnostic efficiency and facilitate improved management of high-risk patients.

In a large study looking at the use of colorectal cancer screening techniques (including computed tomography (CT) colonography) between 2000 and 2018, researchers found that the 50 to 54 age group had the lowest increases in screening and a significantly higher chasm of racial and socioeconomic disparities in comparison to other age groups.

Calantric™ Digital Solutions reportedly offers artificial intelligence (AI)-powered apps, bolsters lesion detection, facilitates triage priorities and enhances workflow efficiency.

Catch up on the top radiology news of the past week.

The radiopharmaceutical is already approved for use in PET imaging in men with suspected prostate cancer recurrence.

As the iodinated contrast media shortage continues to have a significant adverse effect on radiology, these authors assess the pros and cons of emerging strategies and imaging alternatives.

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

Noting that an AI software platform could save radiologists up to an hour a day in interpreting chest computed tomography (CT) scans, the authors of a prospective study found shorter mean interpretation times with non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT as well as positive CT scans with and without significant new findings.

Emerging research shows a 14.5 percent increase among African Americans getting screened for lung cancer, which may be attributable to the United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) lowering the minimum screening age to 50 and decreasing the smoking intensity screening threshold from 30 pack years to 20 pack years in March 2021.

Whether it is humorous associations with common terminology, oddities on X-rays or decidedly uncomfortable imaging findings, this author shares a few chuckles from his experience.

The newly FDA-cleared Symbia Pro.specta SPECT/CT Scanner, which reportedly offers a variety of enhanced capabilities including low-dose CT up to 64 slices and intuitive workflow guides, was launched at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2022 Annual Meeting.

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

The new workload management system reportedly emphasizes predictive analytics to facilitate efficient workload distribution and increase reading capacity for radiologists.

A new study showed that the computed tomography radiomics nomogram model had 21.7 percent higher accuracy, 16.7 percent higher sensitivity and 23.5 higher specificity in comparison to a clinical model in a validation cohort.

In a newly published statement, the American College of Radiology cited questionable literature support for the recent FDA guidance and noted potential consequences ranging from diagnosis delays due to parental anxiety about contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and increased health care costs.

A new survey study from the American Cancer Society shows a 4.47 million decrease in cervical cancer screenings and a 2.13 million decrease in breast cancer screenings in the United States between 2018 and 2020.

Do we settle for oblique truths more often than not to mitigate potential repercussions?

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

The resumed production of GE Healthcare’s Omnipaque products is a welcome development for radiologists scrambling to come up with alternative dosing and imaging options in the past month during the temporary shortage of iodinated contrast media.

In an ongoing quest to reduce the impact of the temporary iodinated contrast media (ICM) shortage, a group of researchers recently examined Medicare claims data to identify high-frequency usage patterns of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) services.

For post-op monitoring of patients who had pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) resection, a new study showed that diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had enhanced sensitivity for detecting recurrent tumors in comparison to conventional MRI.

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

A new study revealed that an emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software tool led to improved sensitivity, specificity and inter-observer agreement for the diagnosis of indeterminate pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) scans.

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

Is it a thoughtless verbal reflex or a failure to go beyond a surface read of imaging?

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

Given the challenges with the shortage of the iodinated contrast agent Omnipaque, national and state organizations have issued suggested risk mitigation and conservation strategies to reprioritize imaging needs during this temporary shortage.

In a lung screening cohort of over 2,500 people, researchers found that significantly higher rates of chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure were associated with increased hospitalization and mortality rates in patients with COVID-19.

Review the top radiology content from the past week.