Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Those who believe that profit is the primary driver of growth in imaging utilization might be surprised by a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that use of advanced diagnostic imaging is growing rapidly at HMOs, just as it is in the fee-for-service realm.
A research group led by Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman of the University of California, San Francisco examined imaging utilization rates at six large healthcare systems from 1996 to 2010. They expected to find lower imaging growth rates; instead, use of imaging grew at a similar rate, with use of CT tripling and MRI quadrupling.
Without a financial motive to order more tests, what's driving the growth? Find out by clicking here.
News on PET/MRI
In other news, clinical studies on PET/MRI have figured prominently at this week's Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) meeting in Miami Beach, FL.
In one study, German researchers using an integrated PET/MRI scanner for myocardial perfusion imaging found that cardiac imaging with the hybrid scanner is feasible but "logistically demanding." Quantification of myocardial perfusion remains a particular challenge. Learn more by clicking here.
In a second SNM presentation, another group from Germany compared PET and MRI -- as well as scans fused via software -- to stage tumors in pediatric patients. The method could be useful for sites without the cash to spend on a dedicated scanner. Find out how the technique performed by clicking here.
Finally, learn about the study that won the meeting's coveted Image of the Year honor by clicking here, or visit our Molecular Imaging Digital Community at molecular.auntminnie.com.
Radiation error reporting
Finally, could fear of retaliation be preventing some radiation oncology professionals from reporting errors in radiation therapy? That's the conclusion of a study presented at last week's International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) meeting in Toronto. Get the details by clicking here, or visit our Radiation Oncology Digital Community at radiation.auntminnie.com.
