January 22, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Taking our finger off the trigger By Greg Freiherr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We've entered the earnings season, and companies have begun a refrain of woe about a growing hesitancy among hospital administrators to spend money, about gathering headwinds in global currency markets, about tough times. No question about it, times are tough. And they could get tougher. Now more than ever, we need strong…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 22, 2009 at 8:00pm —
No Comments
January 21, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. FDA warns against lidocaine for relieving mammography-related pain By James Brice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The FDA has issued an advisory warning physicians and patients about potential health risks from topical anesthetic lidocaine used to reduce the discomfort of mammography. The potential value of lidocaine was the subject of a study published in the September 2008 issue of Radiology…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 21, 2009 at 8:00pm —
No Comments
January 21, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Congress report predicts blitz of reimbursement cuts By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The American College of Radiology plans to fight proposals in the Congressional Budget Office's latest report on possible cost-cutting policies affecting medical imaging. College policy experts fear the report may represent the starting point for future payment cuts. The CBO report, Budget Options Volume I:…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 21, 2009 at 8:00pm —
No Comments
January 20, 2009 High-volume production of Mo-99 appears feasible with low-grade uranium By James Brice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A National Research Council panel has concluded that commercial volumes of molybdenum-99 can be produced cost-effectively with low-enriched uranium. Mo-99 is the precursor of technetium-99m, a radioisotope used in most nuclear imaging procedures. The finding establishes a framework for weaning manufacturers of…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 20, 2009 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
January 16, 2009 3T MRI vies with arthroscopy for detection of wrist ligament tears By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Researchers at a private diagnostic imaging center in central Florida have shown 3T MRI of the wrist is nearly as sensitive and specific as arthroscopy for detection of wrist ligament tears. MR could spot abnormalities missed by standard imaging tests and avoid needless surgeries, according to the investigators.…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 16, 2009 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
January 15, 2009 Imaging centers agree to $1.2 million settlement in MRI antikickback suit By James Brice Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has reached a $1.2 million settlement with a group of 14 Illinois radiology centers that allegedly paid illegal kickbacks to doctors in exchange for referrals. The settlement, entered in court on Wednesday, resulted from a lawsuit brought by the attorney general in 2007 after Chicago-area outpatient MRI services challenged the practice of referring…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 15, 2009 at 5:00pm —
No Comments
January 14, 2009 Population-based study finds digital mammography equal to film By Rebekah Moan Digital mammography is at least as good as screen-film mammography for detecting breast cancer, according to a population-based screening program study presented at the RSNA meeting by Irish researchers. Dr. Niamh Hambly of the department of radiology at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the performance of full-field digital mammography for…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 14, 2009 at 5:00pm —
No Comments
January 13, 2009 Uninsured minorities should gain from Obama-style healthcare reform By H.A. Abella A recent study suggests that by lowering access barriers to mammography, the Obama administration could help combat the tendency of uninsured minority women to delay seeking diagnosis for breast cancer. Delayed diagnosis translates into delayed treatment and a poorer prognosis for many women. The study's investigative team was led by Dr. Cherie M. Kuzmiak, an assistant professor of radiology at…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 13, 2009 at 5:30pm —
No Comments
January 13, 2009 One way to help stop the dying By Greg Freiherr Last year he was the 94th richest man in the world. Last week Adolf Merckle stepped in front of a train near his home in Blaubeuren, Germany. The suicide note he left behind has not been made public, but Merckle's family said in a statement that "the distress to his firms caused by the financial crisis and the related uncertainties of recent weeks, along with the helplessness of no longer being able to act, broke the passionate…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 13, 2009 at 5:00pm —
No Comments
January 12, 2009 Study faults regulators for relying on ‘reference man’ radiation dose standard By James Brice A study from the Institute for Energy and Environment Research indicates that U.S. radiation exposure regulations and compliance assessment guidelines often underestimate the risk of radiation for women and children because they are based on standards of a "reference man," a hypothetical 20- to 30-year-old white male. At least three federal agencies -- the Environmental Protection…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 12, 2009 at 5:30pm —
No Comments
January 9, 2009 Digital mammography interpretation takes longer than film reading By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have confirmed what mammographers have long suspected: Digital screening mammograms may take twice as long to read than film. Understanding all variables could boost or make up for interpretation speed. According to the FDA's Center for…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 9, 2009 at 3:00am —
No Comments
January 9, 2009 Digital mammography interpretation takes longer than film reading By H.A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have confirmed what mammographers have long suspected: Digital screening mammograms may take twice as long to read than film. Understanding all variables could boost or make up for interpretation speed. According to the FDA's Center for…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 9, 2009 at 1:00am —
No Comments
January 8, 2009 RSNA memories dwell on more than radiology By the Diagnostic Imaging staff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Between the inevitably slow cab rides to and from O'Hare International Airport, the RSNA experience creates indelible memories. Old-timers recall how the world's largest medical meeting was once contained in a ballroom at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel. Newcomers remember their first exposure to world-class radiological…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on January 8, 2009 at 3:00am —
No Comments
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
