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Proponents call CMS proposed PET coverage decision ‘bittersweet’

January 7, 2009 Proponents call CMS proposed PET coverage decision ‘bittersweet’ By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A proposal by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expand coverage of FDG-PET studies elicited mixed reactions among proponents. Though some applauded the move, others, particularly PET researchers, felt that it fell short of expectations. CMS proposes to cover one FDG-PET study for Medicare beneficiaries… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 7, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Medicare proposes expanded coverage for cancer-related FDG-PET

January 7, 2009 Medicare proposes expanded coverage for cancer-related FDG-PET By James Brice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed Tuesday to grant routine Medicare payment for numerous cancer-related FDG-PET applications evaluated by the National Oncology PET Registry, a program managed by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network. The proposed coverage determination potentially… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 7, 2009 at 3:30am — No Comments

FDA approves first imaging agent for MR angiography in U.S.

January 7, 2009 FDA approves first imaging agent for MR angiography in U.S. By Rebekah Moan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After prolonged deliberation and repeated demands for more research, the FDA has approved Vasovist (gadofosveset trisodium), the first contrast imaging agent to gain regulatory clearance specifically for MR angiography. The agency approved the New Drug Application for Vasovist on Dec. 24. Epix Pharmaceuticals, the agent's… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 7, 2009 at 3:00am — No Comments

Now a safer eye cover mask for medical MRI and Radiology and imaging practitioners

Terry Weber of Originals by Weber introduces their new MRI Safe Eye Cover examination mask. This new product in specially designed to enhance radiological procedures and assists radiologists during MRI and Radiology examination of patients. This mask is made of disposable lightweight black foam. At the same time the product is nontoxic and comes with an adjustable elastic strap. The best thing about this product is that, it extremely comfortable to wear and come at a very low cost. The company… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on January 6, 2009 at 10:10am — No Comments

Vertebroplasty data hint at negative effect on patient survival

January 6, 2009 Vertebroplasty data hint at negative effect on patient survival By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preliminary results from a Mayo Clinic study suggest that patients who undergo vertebroplasty may die sooner than patients with vertebral fractures who do not undergo the procedure. Vertebroplasty has long been validated as a safe and effective treatment for patients with vertebral compression fractures from osteoporosis.… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 6, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Awkward, illegal patient info sneaks into PowerPoint files

January 5, 2009 Awkward, illegal patient info sneaks into PowerPoint files By Philip Ward -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Radiologists should take much greater care over the patient information contained in their PowerPoint files, according to researchers from the University of Michigan. "Think twice before publicly releasing PowerPoint files," said Dr. Frank Londy, lead author of an informatics education exhibit at RSNA 2008. "Review common… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 5, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

Imaging utilization rises where radiology presence drops

January 2, 2009 Imaging utilization rises where radiology presence drops By John C. Hayes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rates of diagnostic imaging utilization varied by more than 56% across the 10 Medicare regions of the U.S., according to a study presented at the RSNA meeting. The regions with the highest utilization had the lowest percentage of imaging services provided by radiologists. The study looked at trends in noninvasive imaging… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 2, 2009 at 4:00am — No Comments

'Yes we can' change our minds about reform

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 'Yes we can' change our minds about reform It's been 15 years since Hillary's effort fell apart, and I'm just starting to catch up BY ERIC TREFELNER, M.D. Dr. Trefelner is a radiologist and cofounder of NightShift Radiology. He invites comments by e-mail at ericxray@pacbell.net or fax at 650/728-5099. "Arrrgh!! Two hours on this motor vehicle accident case with CTs of the head, face, chest, abdomen, pelvis, lower extremities, and cervical,… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

When the RSNA throws the book at us, we read it all

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 When the RSNA throws the book at us, we read it all At 1186 pages, much of it in agate (very small) type, the RSNA 2008 program book is a pretty imposing document. Few people or organizations can claim to have reviewed most of it. But the Diagnostic Imaging news team did. Every year, for 11 years running, we've divided the program book by topics and conducted a comprehensive review that is summarized and shared as part of our RSNA coverage… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Ultrasound predicts stroke from carotid morphology

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Ultrasound predicts stroke from carotid morphology A large Italian study suggests that ultrasound can predict the risk of stroke in mostly asymptomatic patients based on the assessment of carotid artery plaque morphology, not just the degree of stenosis. Sonographic surveillance of plaque evolution could boost stroke prevention. Based on a prospective cohort of 1655 patients who underwent ultrasound-based assessments of carotid plaque… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

True value comes to digital imaging via mining of medical databases

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 True value comes to digital imaging via mining of medical databases BY JOHN C. HAYES, EDITOR For most of the past 15 years or so, radiologists joining the digital revolution have focused on getting their images into the PACS—and out again, properly annotated with a report. For many today, that's still the primary function of a RIS and PACS. That's changing rapidly. Though still largely the province of large academic institutions, data mining… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Targeted therapies gain ground on hard-to-treat liver tumors

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Targeted therapies gain ground on hard-to-treat liver tumors Radioactive microspheres treat lesions but spare healthy surrounding tissue, improving patients' odds against some of the deadliest cancers BY ANDREW KENNEDY, M.D., FACRO Dr. Kennedy is co-medical director of Wake Radiology Oncology in Cary, NC. Not long ago, our approach to treating difficult metastatic tumors was to "spray and pray." We knew that chemotherapy and other traditional… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

SPECT trial helps solve mystery of fibromyalgia

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 SPECT trial helps solve mystery of fibromyalgia By Rebekah Moan Millions of adults who suffer from chronic pain may no longer need to bear the added burden of wondering if their discomfort originates from a condition called fibromyalgia rather than depression or anxiety. French researchers have used SPECT to identify brain abnormalities that present physiological evidence of fibromyalgia. …

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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

South Carolina radiologist stands against 'Rad Scare'

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 South Carolina radiologist stands against 'Rad Scare' He encourages cardiac imagers to balance clinical risks and benefits of ionizing radiation By H.A. Abella Radiologists were urged at the RSNA meeting to combat distorted reports about cardiac CT radiation exposure that raise unreasonable public anxiety about the risk of medical imaging. Dr. Joseph Schoepf, a professor of radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston,… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Some breast cancers may regress spontaneously

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Some breast cancers may regress spontaneously Unexpected findings from a study of Norwegian women who have and have not received routine biennial screening mammography suggest some breast cancers may spontaneously regress. Dr. Per-Henrik Zahl, a senior statistician at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, and colleagues compared cumulative breast cancer incidence in agematched cohorts of women before and after the initiation of… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Real-time elasticity findings improve breast specificity

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Real-time elasticity findings improve breast specificity User-friendly elastography emerges as valuable adjunct technique to B-mode imaging for better differentiation of solid masses BY ANNE TARDIVON, M.D. Dr. Tardivon is a radiologist in the breast imaging section at the Institut Curie in Paris. Ultrasound has long been an efficient and useful adjunct technique for breast imaging. It is the first modality to be proposed in some situations: if a… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Radiation dose reduction themes color RSNA 2008

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Radiation dose reduction themes color RSNA 2008 Improved imaging capabilities and radiologist awareness promise to reduce patient exposure By H.A. Abella Radiation dose reduction was a dominant theme at the 2008 RSNA scientific assembly. If one point was clear to the nearly 60,000 people attending the meeting, it was that radiology has reasserted its authority over the use of ionizing radiation in diagnostic imaging. …

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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Rads lose procedure volume to cardiologists, surgeons

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Rads lose procedure volume to cardiologists, surgeons By Donna Domino Editor's note: In the original version of this article there were some errors in the reporting of information made during a presentation at the 2008 RSNA meeting by Dr. David Levin, professor and chair emeritus of the radiology department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. A corrected version follows. As percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Radiation dose reduction themes color RSNA 2008

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Occult infarction presages major event

January 1, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 31 No. 1 Occult infarction presages major event Enhanced MR protocol helps stratify patients By James Brice Dr. Stephan Miller and colleagues at the University of Tübingen in Germany have discovered that silent myocardial infarction raises the likelihood of a future major cardiac event for 14% of patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease evaluated with MRA. They made the finding after developing a new MR protocol that combined… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 1, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments