“Contrast media are critical to the added value of imaging technology,” Dushyant Sahani, MD, noted in a recent video interview series with Joseph Cavallo, MD, MBA.
For computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT), Dr. Sahani said contrast agents are used in the majority of tests of cardiovascular imaging and oncology imaging in emergency departments.
“I would say that 70 to 80 percent of tests would not be as effective if we didn’t use these high-quality contrast agents that we have,” noted Dr. Sahani.
Dr. Sahani added that contrast agents are essential for advanced imaging. According to Dr. Sahani, hybrid or physiological imaging cannot be done without the use of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracers in PET/CT imaging.
Dr. Sahani noted that the global radiology workforce is “much younger,” noting that contrast agents help level the playing field, provide diagnostic support to referral providers and facilitating optimal outcomes for patients.
“Contrast media makes these images sharper. If you take the contrast agent out of many of these technologies, (you) will see a huge difference in the way care is delivered (and) the challenges of diagnosis and misdiagnosis, “Dr. Sahani stressed. “[You will also see] a substanial drop in reliance on imaging technology.
The recent shortage of contrast agents highlights how radiologists and healthcare professionals depend on these agents to aid in making timely diagnoses and treatment decisions for patients.While Dr. Sahani reviewed the use of imaging bulk packs to reduce contrast media waste and increased utilization of multi-energy and spectral CT to reduce contrast dose, ongoing monitoring and contrast agent diversification were important lessons learned.
“You need to be proactive about checking your supply, you need to diversify your supply sources, and you need to have good relationships with your vendors.” Those relationships really show up when you need their help, “Dr. Sahani noted.
As Dr. Sahani said, it is of great significance to maintain good relationships with medical supplies suppliers and promote diversification of supply sources. LnkMed is also a supplier that focuses on the medical field. The products it produces are used together with the central product of this article – contrast media, that is, high-pressure contrast media injectors. The contrast agent is injected into the patient’s body through it so that the patient can undergo a series of subsequent examinations. LnkMed has the ability to produce a full range of high pressure contrast media injector products: CT single head contrast media injector, CT double head contrast media injector, MRI contrast media injector and Angiography high pressure contrast media injector (DSA high pressure contrast media injector). LnkMed has a team with more than 10 years of experience.The strong R&D and design team and strict quality control system are also important reasons why LnkMed’s products are sold well in major hospitals at home and abroad. We can also provide syringes and tubes adapted to all major injector models (like Bayer Medrad, Bracco, Guerbet Mallinckrodt, Nemoto, Sino, Seacrowns). We look forward to your consultation.
“If you look at the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare practice, there is a greater emphasis on operations, which is not only about efficiency but also about cost. All of these factors will play a role in the choice and contract of contrast agents and how they are used in each clinic… Play a greater role in decisions such as generic drugs, “Dr. Sahani added.
The need for contrast media remains unmet. Dr. Sahani suggested that alternatives to iodine contrast agents could enhance the capabilities of advanced imaging techniques.
“On the CT side, we have seen great progress in image acquisition and reconstruction through spectral CT and now photon counting CT, but the real value of these technologies lies in the new contrast agents,” Dr. Sahani claimed. “… We want different types of agents, different molecules that can be distinguished using advanced CT technology. Then we can imagine the full potential of these advanced technologies.”
Post time: Apr-09-2024
