Terri Wilson

[email protected]

Nuclear Medicine

Medicare coverage gets easier for oncologic PET tracers

In September 2013, Medicare coverage for new oncologic PET radiopharmaceuticals underwent a quiet yet significant change. In a new column, Terri Wilson of Blue Earth Diagnostics explains how the changes are making it easier for providers to receive reimbursement for PET studies with the new radiotracers.

February 16, 2017

2017 02 16 14 44 03 819 Pet Axumin 400

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Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.

Advanced ultrasound techniques improve soft tissue tumor evaluation

Both SWE and SMI can help distinguish benign from malignant soft tissue tumors.

Woman Patient Asian 400

Should cancer data stop lumping Asian Americans, NHPI people together?

Minnie Cast Thumbnail (21)

Women's Imaging MinnieCast, Episode 16: Breast AI expectations versus performance

Serial axial chest CT scans demonstrating the longitudinal evolution of small pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) incidentally detected during a routine wellness assessment. (A) Images in a 37-year-old woman with a family history of lung cancer show a nodule with the progressive growth pattern (box). The baseline CT scan, obtained in October 2017, demonstrates a pure ground-glass nodules in the right lower lobe. Consecutive CT scans obtained from 2017 to 2022 show the continuous enlargement of the nodule during active surveillance. The maximum diameter of the nodule increased from 5.6 mm in 2017 to 10.2 mm in 2022. (B) Images in a 45-year-old man show a nodule with the indolent growth pattern (box). The baseline CT scan, obtained in April 2018, demonstrates a pure ground-glass nodules in the left lower lobe. Consecutive CT scans obtained from 2019 to 2023 show that the nodule remained radiographically stable during CT surveillance. The maximum diameter of the nodule was 5.4 mm in 2018 and 6.1 mm at the final surveillance scan in 2023.

CT reveals progressive growth pattern in incidental lung nodules

Nominations Are Open — 2026 Minnies

Nominations Are Open — 2026 Minnies

Advanced ultrasound techniques improve soft tissue tumor evaluation

By Amerigo Allegretto

Both SWE and SMI can help distinguish benign from malignant soft tissue tumors.

August 26, 2026

Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.

Should cancer data stop lumping Asian Americans, NHPI people together?

By Amerigo Allegretto

The results highlight the need for disaggregated data to effectively target cancer prevention and control interventions.

August 27, 2026

Woman Patient Asian 400

Women's Imaging MinnieCast, Episode 16: Breast AI expectations versus performance

By Amerigo Allegretto

Azadeh Elmi, MD, shares results showing how breast imaging AI tools have modest clinical benefit in practice over expectations.

August 28, 2026

Minnie Cast Thumbnail (21)

CT reveals progressive growth pattern in incidental lung nodules

This pattern is most associated with a family history of lung cancer.

August 25, 2026

Serial axial chest CT scans demonstrating the longitudinal evolution of small pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) incidentally detected during a routine wellness assessment. (A) Images in a 37-year-old woman with a family history of lung cancer show a nodule with the progressive growth pattern (box). The baseline CT scan, obtained in October 2017, demonstrates a pure ground-glass nodules in the right lower lobe. Consecutive CT scans obtained from 2017 to 2022 show the continuous enlargement of the nodule during active surveillance. The maximum diameter of the nodule increased from 5.6 mm in 2017 to 10.2 mm in 2022. (B) Images in a 45-year-old man show a nodule with the indolent growth pattern (box). The baseline CT scan, obtained in April 2018, demonstrates a pure ground-glass nodules in the left lower lobe. Consecutive CT scans obtained from 2019 to 2023 show that the nodule remained radiographically stable during CT surveillance. The maximum diameter of the nodule was 5.4 mm in 2018 and 6.1 mm at the final surveillance scan in 2023.

Radiology faculty most stressed, least satisfied

Across faculty, technologists, and nurses, the most common stressors were generally system-level issues.

August 27, 2026

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Radiology Partners to acquire Everlight Radiology in $1 billion deal

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Radiology Partners said it intends to make its Mosaic Drafting AI tool available to Everlight radiologists.

August 25, 2026

Former Philips engineer convicted of x-ray trade secret theft

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Chih-Yee Jen, 71, worked at Philips' Aurora, IL facility developing x-ray tubes for CT scanners under the company's Dunlee brand.

August 26, 2026

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Thymic health should be considered for radiotherapy planning

By Amerigo Allegretto

New evidence shows that unintended radiation exposure to the thymus during lung cancer treatment may lead to worse outcomes.

August 26, 2026

Radiation Treatment Cancer 400 (2)

Malpractice suits tied to diagnostic errors, rising costs

Radiology malpractice claims were more likely than those in other specialties to involve diagnostic errors (71.3% versus 27.6%).

August 26, 2026

Podcast: Where do MRI accident reports go?

MRI insiders quickly learned about the 2023 MRI accident in which a nurse was pinned to an MRI scanner by an ICU bed.

August 25, 2026

The Invisible Force Podcast Album Cover Auntminnie Jan 2026 Thumbnails

Interventional radiology tops compensation growth in 2025

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Interventional radiology led all specialties in compensation growth while radiology continues to be a specialty in high demand.

August 25, 2026

Money Bills 400

MRI detects ARIA in 21% of real-world donanemab patients

Of the 48 patients who underwent at least one surveillance MRI, 10 (21%) had an ARIA detected.

August 24, 2026

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