Jonathan S. Batchelor[email protected]Nuclear MedicineDOTA-NOC PET/CT raises the bar in neuroendocrine imagingReceptors for the naturally occurring neuropeptide somatostatin have been shown to have a high concentration on neuroendocrine tumors. Indium-111-labeled octreotide has long been the preferred agent for imaging somatostatin receptors on neuroendocrine tumors in vivo. But a recent study by German researchers indicates that there may be a new radiotracer of choice for neuroendocrine carcinoma imaging, Ga-68 DOTA-NOC.April 26, 2007Practice ManagementImaging self-referral comes under scrutiny in CaliforniaDiagnostic imaging in California was put under the spotlight when a report came out earlier this week suggesting that up to one-third of advanced imaging exams were being billed by physicians who exploit exceptions in the Stark II law to self-refer patients for these services. A team from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, analyzed the 2004 billing records of providers of MRI, CT, and PET for a large private health insurer in California.April 19, 2007ISRIS-SR-PACS combo speeds radiology reportingTo achieve speedier report turnaround time, practices have embraced information technologies such as RIS, speech recognition (SR), and PACS. Although studies have measured time and productivity metrics for each of these systems, and some in conjunction with one another, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio assessed the impact of the technologies on reporting time as they were introduced in succession at their facility.April 16, 2007Practice ManagementAuntMinnie.com Imaging Center InsiderApril 15, 2007BreastMultivendor digital mammo project makes mark in GermanyDigital mammography is often deployed in a heterogeneous IT environment with different developers' RIS, PACS, and archive products interacting with the modality, presenting a host of integration concerns. A group of information systems administrators in Germany recently faced the challenge of bringing CR mammography online and discovered that successfully assimilating the modality into the enterprise is not just an issue of interfacing the technology.April 15, 2007Nuclear MedicineMolecular medicine, HIT create symbiosis for better careThe combination of healthcare information technology (HIT) and molecular medicine could change the paradigm of healthcare delivery, according to a presentation at the 2007 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference in New Orleans.April 5, 2007Nuclear MedicineRubidium PET/CT shows potential for coronary artery disease diagnosisWhile molecular imaging for coronary artery disease (CAD) with SPECT or PET is accurate, diagnosis of multivessel CAD has proved difficult with these modalities. A team of researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston may have found a way to address the insufficiencies of multivessel CAD diagnosis by utilizing rubidium (Rb-82) PET/CT to determine a value for vasodilator left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reserve.March 29, 2007PACS/VNARIS/PACS provides potential for performance, safety improvementsThe implementation of RIS and PACS products in radiology has demonstrated increased cost savings, throughput, and customer satisfaction. The systems can also help practices measure technologists' output, providing the groups with metrics to improve both performance and patient safety, according to a study by a Canadian researcher.March 20, 2007ISStandards drive Australian e-health initiativeAustralia's National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) has been laying the foundation for a national electronic health record (EHR) system based on interoperability standards. By developing common standards and using existing clinical and IT standards, NEHTA hopes to enable an efficient and economical deployment of EHR capabilities throughout the country.March 15, 2007InterventionalIR looks to makeover cosmetic medicine marketplaceVIENNA - In a time of declining reimbursements for diagnostic imaging, practices looking to augment their bottom line may want to cast a long, lingering look at the aesthetic procedure market, according to presentations at this week's European Congress of Radiology (ECR).March 12, 2007Page 1 of 82Next PageTop StoriesMRIFunctional MRI illuminates what motivates e-cigarette useFunctional MRI shows that e-cigarette users perceive the product as equally rewarding as money -- a finding that highlights the addictive potential of vaping.Womens ImagingStudent-led initiative working to close gender gap in radiologyCTCT-defined CAC predicts cardiovascular events in lung cancer patientsEconomicsMedicare finalizes 2025 Fee Schedule cutPractice ManagementShare of nonphysician practitioners' imaging interpretation doubles