Two recently published PET studies reveal the ways in which molecular imaging can be used to treat difficult cases of breast cancer. The first deals with an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors (ER) in ER-positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights the ability of ¹⁸F-FDG to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a  very aggressive type of breast cancer. Both studies were published in the February issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

The search for a domestic supply of the radioisotope technetium-99m (tech-99) may have to begin anew as General Electric has temporarily put the brakes on a project at an Illinois nuclear power plant that would have produced molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which decays into tech-99.

Researchers have found that a small device worn on a patient’s brow, called frontal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), can be useful in monitoring stroke patients in the hospital, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of Neurosurgical Focus.

Concerns that surgical breast biopsies, as opposed to percutaneous core needle biopsies, were being overused may be unfounded as the true surgical breast biopsy rate is likely somewhere between 2 percent and 18 percent, which is close to the recommended rate, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, a national fundraiser for breast cancer research, has said it will halt all partnerships with Planned Parenthood, a move that will cut funding for breast cancer screenings and prevention.

Six current and former employees of the FDA—all scientists and physicians who worked on reviewing medical devices—have filed suit against the agency, accusing it of spying on their computer activities. The six allege that they were placed under secret surveillance because they had warned Congress that FDA was hastily approving risky devices.

With the growth of cardiac imaging, there has been heightened concern about the resulting increased exposure to ionizing radiation. Andrew J. Einstein, MD, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, outlined the currently available research on radiation exposure in cardiac imaging in the Feb. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and concluded that while strong data specifically addressing the risks of cancer from cardiac imaging don’t exist, increased risks can be projected from studies involving similar levels of radiation exposure.

Although post-imaging use of cardiac catheterization and medical therapy increased in proportion to the degree of abnormality findings, noninvasive testing had only a modest impact on clinical management of patients referred for clinical testing, according to the SPARC trial published in the Jan. 31 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Women with two types of high-risk lesions (papilloma and radial scar) with normal MRI results can avoid surgical excision and instead undergo clinical and imaging follow-up, according to a prospective study published in the February issue of American Journal of Roentgenology.

Exposure to iodinated contrast media during imaging procedures is associated with changes in thyroid function and an increased risk of hyperthyroidism, according to a report in the Jan. 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. An accompanying commentary argued that the study is a good example of why patients who may be particularly vulnerable to thyroid dysfunction should be monitored after iodine exposure.

Radiology departments must define and monitor their safety metrics to measure departmental performance, identify problem areas and track improvement, while also fostering a supportive department culture, according to an article published in the February issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

More than 1,000 hospitals have embraced online social networking. It’s as much for them as for the 4,700 or so that have avoided the resource that ECRI Institute has released a new risk analysis, "Social Media in Healthcare," and made it available for free downloading.

Female radiologists, particularly those in leadership roles, remain relatively rare, particularly compared with other specialties. A quarterly Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion published in the January issue of American Journal of Roentgenology surveyed leaders about strategies to encourage more women to enter the radiology field and pursue leadership roles. The answers were varied and identified the lack of a quick fix.

A secondary analysis of patients with calcium scores of 600 or greater confirmed that pretest probability for coronary artery disease (CAD) and coronary calcium scoring are important factors in the effectiveness of CT angiography (CTA) to exclude or confirm the presence of obstructive CAD, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The results showed that CTA should not be extended to patients with substantial coronary calcification, according to an accompanying editorial comment.

Thomson Reuters, in its fourth annual study identifying the top U.S. health systems based on balanced system-wide clinical performance, has culled data from more than 300 organizations to single out 15 hospital systems that achieved superior clinical outcomes based on a composite score of eight measures of quality, patient perception of care and efficiency.

One percent of the U.S. population accounted for 22 percent of all healthcare spending in 2009 while the lower spending half of the population accounted for only 2.9 percent, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The use of PET imaging increased rapidly from 2004 through 2008 among Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with cancer, according to a study published in the January issue of Journal of the American College of Radiology. The researchers surmised that PET primarily serves as an additional, rather than replacement, imaging exam.

In the wake of a Jan. 13 CNN exclusive detailing widespread sharing of exams questions, known as “recalls,” the American Board of Radiology (ABR) has issued a pair of statements regarding the security of its qualifying exam and emphasized a new case-based test format that will debut in 2013.

As a woman ages, her chances of being diagnosed with a lower-risk breast tumor increase, according to a study published in the December 2011 issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. The study showed that for women over age 50, a substantial number of cancers detected by mammograms have good prognoses.

The FDA has released preliminary information from the ongoing investigation of the improper usage of CardioGen-82 (Bracco Diagnostics). The agency said that certain clinical sites are responsible for the exposure of some patients to more radiation than is typically associated with a CardioGen-82 scan. A voluntary recall of CardioGen-82 was launched on July 25, 2011.