The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has reported that the medical isotope shortage resulted in a 22% decline in nuclear medicine exams for cardiac, bone, and lung diagnostic tests on Canadian patients in October 2009 compared to October 2008.
The CIHI survey noted that the decrease represents approximately 12,000 fewer exams over the 12-month period among nuclear medicine sites, which participated in the survey.
The report also found that most nuclear medicine departments made necessary changes, such as rescheduling patient exams and setting up new ways to prioritize patients, during the shortage of molybdenum-99 and technetium-99m.
Approximately two-thirds of nuclear medicine facilities in Canada took part in the survey, which represents approximately 75% of all nuclear medicine exams performed in the country.
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