News for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals |  |
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The news summaries appearing in SNMMI SmartBrief are based on original information from multiple
internet sources and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher.
The items below are not selected or reviewed by SNMMI prior to publication. Questions and comments may
be directed to SmartBrief at snmmi@smartbrief.com.
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- SNMMI issues Choosing Wisely recommendations
As part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, 17 additional medical societies including SNMMI have contributed recommendations to the American Board of Internal Medicine-led effort. SNMMI's recommendations address use of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging tests. The recommendations advise providers to refrain from using PET/CT to screen for cancer in healthy people and avoid PET imaging to assess patients with dementia unless the patient has been seen by a specialist. Other recommendations address cardiovascular and thyroid screenings. SNMMI President-elect Dr. Gary Dillehay said the procedures addressed in the recommendations weren't necessarily abused. "Times have changed on some of these things, and they (just) don't apply anymore," he said. DOTMed.com
(2/21)
, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
(2/21)
, MedPage Today (free registration)
(2/21)
, AuntMinnie.com (free registration)
(2/21)
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 | Finally, a practical way to personalize PET doses.
The MEDRAD™ Intego™ PET Infusion System utilizes a fully shielded, mobile design with integrated dosimetry to enable clinicians to determine and administer an accurate, personalized dose for each patient. To see how the MEDRAD™ Intego™ is supporting better patient care, click here. |
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Clinical News & Research
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- PET/CT predicts treatment response in women with breast cancer
PET/CT imaging with 18F-labeled fluoromisonidazole may be a useful tool in predicting primary endocrine resistance in patients with breast cancers that are estrogen receptor-positive, according to a study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The method was able to predict 88% of cases involving progressive disease, according to the study, which assessed postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer who had never been treated with endocrine therapy. Findings also indicated a positive relationship between baseline 18F-FMISO uptake and clinical results following three months of letrozole treatment. MolecularImaging.net
(2/20)
- Study links second gene to Alzheimer's disease
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found a second gene, known as BCHE, is linked to Alzheimer's disease along with the APOE gene. The study, which used genetic data and PET brain imaging with florbetapir, found that a variant of BCHE was linked to plaque levels, independent of the effects of APOE, although the two genes had an additive effect. The BCHE gene codes for an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which declines in the early stages of Alzheimer's. "The findings could recharge research efforts studying the molecular pathways contributing to amyloid deposits in the brain as Alzheimer's disease develops and affects learning and memory," said researcher Vijay K. Ramanan from the Indiana University School of Medicine. MedicalXpress.com/News release
(2/20)
Industry Report
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- ECRI lists top 10 technology concerns for the year
ECRI Institute has released a list of technology issues for executives to watch this year. Included in the list are the use of PET/MR, which the institute said could represent an important capital investment, and concerns about radiation dose safety. EHRs earned the top spot on the list of issues to watch. DOTMed.com
(2/20)
News from the Field
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International Developments
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Health Policy
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Advancing Health Care
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From SNMMI
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- SNMMI releases list of "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question"
SNMMI today released a list of specific tests that are commonly ordered — but not always necessary — in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging as part of the Choosing Wisely® campaign, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation. The list identifies five targeted, evidence-based recommendations that can support conversations between patients and physicians about what care is really necessary and appropriate. Read SNMMI's list.
- Diagnostic CT and PET/CT cases available
Meet PET/CT and diagnostic CT training and credentialing recommendations. These cases have been designed so nuclear medicine physicians with no recent CT training can supervise and interpret CT images in conjunction with PET or SPECT. They also allow radiologists with no recent PET training to supervise and interpret PET images in conjunction with CT. Get started today.
SmartQuote
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 | Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
--Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator

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SNMMI SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, February 20, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Monday, February 18, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
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