ACR working with FDA and HHS to help address imaging contrast shortage

Iodine contrast being loaded into a contrast injector in preparation for a cardiac CT scan at Duly Health and Care in Lisle, Illinois. The contrast shortage is causing some healthcare organizations to postpone exams and procedures and ration contrast supplies. Photo by Dave Fornell

Contrast being loaded into an injector for a cardiac CT scan at Duly Health and Care in Lisle, Illinois. Photo by Dave Fornell

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced this week its government relations staff has been engaging federal agencies in an effort to improve product availability and hasten resolution of the ongoing iodine contrast shortage.

VIDEO: American College of Radiology working with FDA to mitigate contrast shortage

Interview with Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, FSIR, FACR, FAHA, professor of radiology, chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia, vice chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Board of Chancellors, and the chairman of the ACR Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology. He explains how the ACR and group purchasing organizations are asking the FDA to mitigate the contrast shortage with an emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow non-FDA cleared iodine contrast use.

Alan Matsumoto, MD, chair of the department of radiology at the University of Virginia and vice chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors, explains how the ACR and group purchasing organizations are asking the FDA to mitigate the contrast shortage with an emergency use authorization to allow non-FDA cleared iodine contrast agents to be imported.

New atherosclerosis treatment uses ultrasound-assisted lasers to break down plaque

Example of ultrasound-assisted laser arterial plaque removal, which might be developed into a new type of less traumatic atherectomy system.Image courtesy of Rohit Singh.
Example of ultrasound-assisted laser arterial plaque removal, which might be developed into a new type of less traumatic atherectomy system. Image courtesy of Rohit Singh.

The new technique is still in the development stage, but early research suggests it could provide clinicians with a new treatment option for breaking down arterial plaque.