A recent pediatric clinical trial revealed that left ventricular opacification with the ultrasound agent Definity improved ejection fraction assessment for 80 percent of patients.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the use of the ultrasound contrast agent Definity (perflutren lipid microsphere) in pediatric patients with suboptimal echocardiograms.
Through opacification of the left ventricular chamber on ultrasound, Definity facilitates improved visualization of the left ventricular endocardial border, according to Lantheus, the manufacturer of Definity.
Lantheus noted the FDA approval was based on findings from three pediatric clinical trials. One study demonstrated enhanced detection of wall motion abnormalities in 70 percent of patients and improved determination of ejection fraction in 80 percent of patients.
"While (Definity) has long demonstrated its effectiveness in providing better outcomes in adults over the past two decades, this new FDA decision offers a critical diagnostic tool for pediatric heart patients and their families,” said Kassa Darge, M.D., Ph.D, radiologist-in-chief and chair of the Department of Radiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “This approval will offer a valuable alternative to pediatric cardiologists trying to do imaging work up in challenging pediatric cardiac cases.”
Leading Breast Radiologists Discuss the USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
May 17th 2024In recognition of National Women’s Health Month, Dana Bonaminio, MD, Amy Patel, MD, and Stacy Smith-Foley, MD, shared their thoughts and perspectives on the recently updated breast cancer screening recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19
November 3rd 2020In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.
Appealing Prior Authorization Denials: Can it be Effective for Emerging Technologies?
May 14th 2024While radiologists and other providers may be discouraged by insurer denials saying the use of a technological advance is “unproven and investigational,” 82 percent of appeals for prior authorization denials were approved in 2021.
Current Insights and Emerging Roles for Contrast-Enhanced Mammography
May 10th 2024In a recent lecture at the 2024 ARRS Annual Meeting, Jordana Phillips, MD, discussed the role of contrast-enhanced mammography in staging breast cancer, evaluating response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and recalls from screening.