Photon-counting CT shines | New oral contrast agent spots 'impossible-to-detect' findings | Lung cancer screening misinformation

Compared to conventional contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography, photon-counting CT exams can reduce patients' effective radiation dose by more than 66%.

The company announced the funding on Monday, citing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s clearance of its CT:VQ platform as the driver. 

Tim Szczykutowicz, PhD, associate professor radiology, University of Wisconsin Madison, explains the new technology developments in GE HealthCare's  FDA 510(k)-pending photon-counting CT scanner. 

Experts involved in its development are confident the agent has the potential to overcome shortcomings associated with conventional oral agents currently on the market. 

Medical societies representing all three specialties issued a joint statement Jan. 21, criticizing studies claiming such scans pose risk of potential patient harm. 

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. It is estimated that it claims approximately 125,000 lives in the U.S. every year.

New findings suggest that the majority of older adults (65+) with lower risk head injuries do not have positive findings on CT imaging.

Boston Medical Center has sought to have patients self-identify for lung cancer screening, administering multilingual surveys while they wait for imaging appointments. 

AI-CVD is a quantitative imaging tool that uses computed tomography images to identify and quantify a myriad diseases. 

CMS previously announced it was temporarily reassigning payment codes for coronary CT angiography, resulting in a 104% higher technical fee.