Medical Imaging

Physicians utilize medical imaging to see inside the body to diagnose and treat patients. This includes computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, angiography,  and the nuclear imaging modalities of PET and SPECT. 

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Including radiologists in radiotherapy prep bolsters quality of care

Many radiation oncologists are not formerly trained in imaging interpretation, and radiologists’ collaborative participation in care planning can help to catch errors, experts wrote recently.

GE HealthCare recalling nuclear imaging systems as FDA warns of dangerous consequences

The FDA alerted patients and providers about the issue Feb. 15, labeling it as the agency’s “most serious” type of recall. 

Ed Nicol, MD, consultant cardiologist and honorary senior clinical lecturer with Kings College London and president-elect of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT), explained artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac CT is here to stay and its use is expanding. He noted that one AI-based algorithm is already included in recent cardiology guidelines and more will likely follow. #SCCT

Cardiac imagers need to understand AI as it enters clinical use and ACC guidelines

Most FDA-cleared AI algorithms are related to radiology and cardiology, meaning radiologists and cardiologists need to make an effort to learn how these technologies work.

Internal surgery patients with infectious complications shown not to benefit by extra CT

Thoracic CT is safely and wisely omitted from diagnostic protocols for ICU patients who have signs of infection after abdominopelvic surgery but were already imaged with abdominal CT.

Homegrown tracking boosts follow-up imaging for incidental findings of uncertain gravity

A structured program to track incidental findings on body CT has significantly boosted rates of clinician follow-up as well as timely patient adherence to radiologist recommendations for next exams.

caption health GE healthcare echo ultrasound AI

GE Healthcare to acquire AI imaging specialists Caption Health

Caption Health has been a major player in the cardiac imaging space in recent years, gaining attention for its AI-powered echocardiography solutions. 

Relative affluence no guarantee against financial toxicity occasioned by breast cancer

Whether poor, wealthy or somewhere in between, women being treated for breast cancer tend to suffer significant financial setbacks.

Appearances can be deceiving on chest CT performed for COVID in cancer patients

In a study of more than 250 COVID-positive patients with a history of any cancer, fewer than half the cohort had chest CT findings deemed typical for COVID-related pneumonia based on an RSNA classification guide. 

Around the web

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.