January, 2010

Nuclear Medicine Notes

Lorenza Clausen, President-Elect, Legislative Analyst

HR 3276, the American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009 [H.R.3276.RFS] has been referred to the Senate from the House. Representative Edward Markey (MA-7) introduced this bill to set aside funding in the Energy bill for medical isotope production in the United States. Hearings were held in early December (12-3-09) in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Production in the U.S. of Molybdenum-99 would decrease the cost by decreasing or eliminating the importation of uranium for medical isotope production.

Authors! Authors! Authors!

Did you know that the first job I have as Editor is to correct any misspelled words and grammar regarding the articles submitted for Technigram publication?

I am actively searching for articles written by CSRT members or non-members who have something to say. Topic is your own. It could be a technical thing, an experience that involved technical skill, a complaint, a compliment, a shout-out, a wish list, an editorial, a commercial (?), well maybe. not a commercial. Reasonable limits as to size of the article in word number. Diagrams, photos, charts, etc. encouraged. If even marginally interested please contact Mike Enriquez at radprof@hotmail.com or 209-384-6125.

Industry News

Spotlight on CT - "CT Exposure Doses Questioned, Recommendations Released"

Lorenza Clausen, President-Elect, Legislative Analyst

The FDA recently released recommendations for imaging personnel, radiologists and their facilities performing Computed Tomography perfusion of the brain. This was in light of the recent events discovered over an 18 month period at a Southern California facility. Over 200 patients were found to have been overexposed during CT brain perfusion scans. After the FDA conducted its investigation, an additional 50 patients were also found to have received more than eight times the expected radiation level during their scans.

The FDA recommendations were:

• Assess patients for excessive radiation dose who underwent a CT perfusion scan.
• Review their perfusion protocols for correct dosage.
• Implement a quality control plan to ensure that the protocols are followed.
• The Radiologic Technologist should check the CT display for appropriate levels prior to scanning a patient.
• Adjust doses for each study if a patient is to receive more than one study.