Most Clicked SNM SmartBrief Stories
1. Study: New protocol should be adopted for certain SPECT imaging
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
Patients whose SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging is normal should not also undergo rest imaging, a new study found. "The health costs, radiation dose and patient comfort demand that we become flexible in our selection of imaging protocols; the status quo is no longer tenable," said an editorial accompanying the study. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/17)
2. Isotope crisis could lead to shortage in nuclear medicine technologists
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2009
A Canadian group said the shortage of medical isotopes has caused concern among those involved in the nuclear medicine field, as well as among students thinking about becoming nuclear medicine technologists. "If graduates in 2010 are not able to secure jobs, this news will spread quickly, with a likely drop in enrollments. ... This would lead to a shortage of nuclear medicine technologists," the group told a government panel on isotope production. Toronto Sun (11/18)
3. CMS to increase payment for PET MPI next year
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 20, 2009
The CMS in 2010 will implement a 24% increase in reimbursement for PET myocardial perfusion imaging. The agency will continue to assign to APC 0307 all Cardiac PET CPT codes. APC 0307 payment will change to $1,432.87 next year from $1,156.87 this year. HealthImaging.com (11/19)
4. Radioactive iodine gets caught in feeding tube; no harm to patient
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2009
Federal regulators and officials at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center said a thyroid cancer patient received a large dose of radiation when radioactive iodine got caught in his feeding tube for almost four days. Doctors said the patient was not harmed by the incident, but the hospital has stopped using feeding tubes to administer radioactive iodine. The cause of the incident is not yet clear and an investigation report is expected soon. San Diego Union-Tribune (11/16)
5. FDG-PET/CT could help plan Crohn's disease treatment
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2009
In a study of 17 Crohn's disease patients, U.S. and Canadian researchers said FDG-PET/CT identified 18 abnormal lesions and five likely abnormal lesions. Further assessment using maximum standardized uptake values also contributed to identifying the patients with active bowel inflammation. This type of imaging could help doctors decide whether surgery or medical therapy is the best treatment plan for patients. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/16)
6. Studies show promising results for AdreView radiopharmaceutical
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
Two Phase III clinical studies showed that cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging using the AdreView radiopharmaceutical might help determine patients' risk of cardiac death and cardiac arrhythmias, said GE Healthcare, the maker of the radiopharmaceutical. The two trials make up the ADMIRE-HF trial, which was undertaken in 96 centers across Europe and North America. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/17)
7. 7 top technologies to watch in 2010
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2009
Electronic medical records and genetic testing are at the top of ECRI Institute's recently released list of technologies to watch in 2010. The list could help health plan executives decide which technologies they should prioritize, the institute said. Healthcare IT News (11/16)
8. Experts discuss role of advanced imaging in personalized radiotherapy
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 16, 2009
Experts at a radiation oncology meeting discussed how emerging imaging modalities present new avenues for personalized radiotherapy. One expert talked about how researchers are using optical imaging agents based on near-infrared fluorophores to direct surgical resection and identify residual tumor cells, and another touched on the use of PET and MRI in assessing hypoxia for tumor staging. AuntMinnie.com (free registration) (11/13)
9. Imaging apoptosis could help determine cancer treatment efficacy
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2009
Researchers are developing a targeted contrast agent that will allow for the imaging of tumor cell death through spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Imaging apoptotic cells could help determine whether cancer treatments are effective and direct drug development and treatment management, the researchers said. HealthImaging.com (11/18)
10. Study examines acute heart attack patients' total radiation dosage
SNM SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2009
A study of more than 64,000 patients who received treatment for acute heart attacks found an average of seven tests using ionizing radiation per patient. "We should not withhold necessary, appropriate tests that involve ionizing radiation -- they provide very important information. What we should do is evaluate and understand the clinical indications for tests that involve ionizing radiation," said the lead author. Eureka! Science News (11/16)
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