ependymoma, pediatric, radiotherapy, dose, ESTRO

Two new studies show that increasing the dose of radiotherapy given to children with an intracranial ependymoma, a form of cancer of the central nervous system, can significantly improve their survival. Results of both studies were presented at the third European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Forum in Barcelona, Spain.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced its support for the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act (H.R. 2043) which seeks to prospectively repeal the existing 25 percent Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction (MPPR) applied to Medicare reimbursement. The MPPR is applied for interpretation of advanced diagnostic imaging scans performed on the same patient, in the same session, on the same day.

A first-in-human prostate cancer study in the Journal of Molecular Imaging and Biology showed initial safety, biodistribution and dosimetry results with [18F]DCFPyL, a second-generation fluorine-18 labeled small-molecule prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) inhibitor. The imaging biomarker has been developed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore by study co-author Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.

Ultrasound has become an essential tool for diagnostic and procedural uses in the critical care environment. The May issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia outlines a new set of basic ultrasound learning skills developed specifically for use in anesthesiology-critical care medicine (ACCM) training programs.


Kaiba was just a newborn when he turned blue because his little lungs weren’t getting the oxygen they needed. Garrett spent the first year of his life in hospital beds tethered to a ventilator, being fed through his veins because his body was too sick to absorb food. Baby Ian’s heart stopped before he was even six months old.

With higher deductibles and more price-conscious healthcare consumers, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, improving the performance, comfort and speed of MRI scans can be an important strategy for imaging centers that must compete by offering the best patient care and experience.

Researchers studying cancer and other invasive diseases rely on high-resolution imaging to see tumors and other activity deep within the body’s tissues. Using a new high-speed, high-resolution imaging method, Lihong Wang, Ph.D., and his team at Washington University in St. Louis were able to see blood flow, blood oxygenation, oxygen metabolism and other functions inside a living mouse brain at faster rates than ever before.

Varian Medical Systems last week unveiled a radiotherapy platform designed to offer clinics an affordable option for implementing advanced image-guided radiotherapy. Varian's VitalBeam system is a cost-effective technology package for offering high-quality, high-throughput radiation therapy, and for expanding clinical capabilities over time.

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