New developments in tracers could make cardiac PET the more precise approach for absolute quantification of myocardial blood flow.

Digital subtraction CT angiography (CTA) should be the preferred noninvasive modality for evaluating intracranial aneurysms given the fact it has a high sensitivity and specificity, and is less invasive and time-consuming than 3D rotational digital subtraction angiography, according to a study published in the February issue of Radiology.

Rates of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation are similar among the sexes; however, women suffer from a greater risk of both major and minor complications, according to a study published in the Feb. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers found that women were also less likely to receive appropriate ICD-delivered therapies when compared with men.

Researchers have found that a small device worn on a patients 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.

Manufacturers of medical devices have agreed to pay substantially higher fees to the FDA in exchange for speedier and more predictable reviews, according to a news release from the agency. The deal, which needs to be approved by Congress, would double the dollars kicked in by industryto $595 million over the next five years, up from $295 million over the past five years, according to multiple sources.

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.

Insurance status can influence the level of imaging services patients receive in the emergency department (ED), with uninsured patients and those on Medicaid receiving fewer imaging services than those with private insurance, according to a study in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Cardiac imaging and data management are playing a larger role in cost savings for hospitals and the healthcare system, despite trends that point to less money for some of these enterprises.