Dear AuntMinnie Member,
It's beginning to look like nuclear medicine's yearlong nightmare over supplies of the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) may finally be coming to a close.
This week, the Canadian government agency that operates the nuclear reactor producing half of North America's supply of Mo-99 told a regulatory panel that repairs to the reactor are finished.
A final decision on whether Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) can resume production of Mo-99 is expected within days. Should it get the go-ahead, AECL's National Research Universal reactor should begin producing the radioisotope later this month.
Read features editor Wayne Forrest's update on this developing story by clicking here, or visit our Molecular Imaging Digital Community at molecular.auntminnie.com.
New USPSTF guidelines on bone density
In other news, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) this week is proposing new guidelines for when high-risk women should begin getting screened for osteoporosis.
The agency's current guidance calls for all women to be screened at age 65 and for high-risk women to begin screening at age 60. Under the proposed new guidelines, screening for high-risk women could begin at any age, based on each woman's combination of clinical risk factors for osteoporosis.
The new guidelines could lead to increased use of bone densitometry systems. Learn more by clicking here, or check out the Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
