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Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has proven effective for numerous medical conditions in many different types of patients, yet it is not used as much in the United States as it is in other countries. Part of the reason for that is likely attributable to the black box warning from the FDA that ultrasound contrast agents carry. A recent citizen petition has drawn attention to this matter, however, and signatories are hoping to convince the FDA to change its stance. Do you think it’s time for the FDA to drop the black box on ultrasound contrast agents? Let us know on Twitter and/or Facebook.
— Dave Yeager, editor |
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Ultrasound Societies Urge FDA to Remove ‘Black Box’ on Ultrasound Contrast Agents
National and international ultrasound societies are urging the FDA to remove the “black box” from ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) labels.
“UCAs are among the safest diagnostic imaging products available,” according to a citizen petition filed by the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS), which represents cardiologists, radiologists, and other physicians and imaging professionals in approximately 60 countries.
UCAs are used worldwide to enhance diagnostic ultrasound scans, according to the petition, which cites an extensive body of favorable safety data that was not available in 2007 when the boxed warnings were first mandated by the FDA.
“It is clear to all who work in the field on a daily basis that the black box harms patient care by misrepresenting risk and inappropriately deterring the use of UCAs when they are medically indicated,” says Steven Feinstein, MD, copresident of ICUS, a professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “There is now a strong consensus from across the adult and pediatric medical ultrasound community that ultrasound contrast agents are extremely safe and do not warrant boxed warnings.”
Full story » |
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Imaging Reveals Subterranean Military Installation at Alcatraz
An archaeological effort spearheaded by New York’s Binghamton University has used laser scans, ground-penetrating radar, and geolocation technology to reveal a onetime military traverse below the former penitentiary at Alcatraz Island, adding to the intrigue of a location that is already the stuff of cinematic legend.
Phase-Contrast Optics Expand Diagnostic, Treatment Horizons
Using phase-contrast microscopy, Purdue University researchers say they have expanded the capabilities of a microscope to the extent that it can help perfect physicians’ understanding of a medication’s interaction with the human body.
A Day in the Life at the UK’s Synchrotron Radiation Compound
A VIP at Diamond Light Source—the United Kingdom’s cutting-edge synchrotron radiation facility—shares some thoughts with Scitech Europa on the facility’s groundbreaking efforts on behalf of structural biology.
3D Imaging Rivals Electron Microscopy in Kidney Disease Diagnosis
Researchers at Australia’s University of Melbourne have determined that 3D imaging in kidney disease can provide a degree of detail normally associated with transmission electron microscopy, according to a study published in Nature Scientific Reports. |
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“Although we had been developing the technique in the laboratory for several years, I was astonished at the incredible level of detail we could see. It seemed quite extraordinary that such a complex cascade of physical interactions could conspire to give such amazing images; it was as if we could listen directly to the color of the molecules that make up the tissue.”
— Paul Beard, PhD, of University College London, on recent advancements in photoacoustic imaging, a modality that merges sound waves with light, as profiled in London’s Financial Times |
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Spot-On
With heart arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation on the rise, catheter ablation is continuing to gain traction in the industry. Some effective new tools, including intracardiac echocardiography and electroanatomic mapping systems, are improving the odds of long-term success. Read more »
A Feeling Out Process
Using a cutting-edge technique that applies mathematical equations to measured greyscale pixels, tumor texture analysis produces nuanced cancer images that can streamline the diagnostic process. Read more »
Fits Like a Glove
Versatility, suitability for outpatient scenarios, even the ever-present promise of AI—all figure prominently in the fast-evolving C-arm landscape. Radiology Today puts the latest information at your fingertips to keep your practice ahead of the curve. Read more »
Bubbling Up
The blood-brain barrier must be approached with caution, particularly when medication must cross the threshold. An ingenious technique that utilizes microbubbles—lipids full of gas—in conjunction with focused ultrasound is enabling physicians to more effectively penetrate the brain’s protective layer. Read more » |
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