Dear Molecular Imaging Insider,
Appropriate use criteria are receiving a fair amount of attention lately with studies on the benefits, risks, and utilization of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).
A new study from Chicago found that inappropriate use of SPECT MPI can increase the risk of cancer from radiation among women and reduce the potential to predict outcomes. Our Insider Exclusive details how women not only could have a greater risk of cancer than men over their lifetime from inappropriate MPI tests, but the scans were also less likely to predict a major adverse cardiac event or the need for revascularization within six months. Get the details by clicking here.
On the same topic, a new study from the University of Florida found that women are more likely than men to have an inappropriate SPECT MPI scan. The reasons for the inequity may be surprising, but not completely unexpected. The study also offers guidance on the best way to diagnose cardiac symptoms in women.
It may be the off-season for football, but some current and retired National Football League (NFL) players are making news in a new study that showed abnormally low blood flow in their brains. Once again, SPECT imaging is proving valuable for this clinical application; the researchers combined the SPECT results with a machine-learning technique to evaluate blood flow in the brains of more than 150 players.
Switching to PET/MRI, researchers have developed a new cardiac protocol with a sodium fluoride radiopharmaceutical that significantly reduces radiation dose and artifacts, enhancing the view of disease activity in coronary arteries.
And let's not forget tried-and-true FDG-PET, which can be used to guide chemotherapy so oncologists can significantly increase the number of patients who go into remission and decrease the use of more toxic forms of chemotherapy in those with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma.
As always, make a visit to the Molecular Imaging Community part of your daily routine to stay informed on the latest news and research from around the world.
