A study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine supported the global adoption of gallium-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT for staging high-risk prostate cancer. The study involved 775 patients across 11 countries and found that PSMA PET/CT was more effective than MRI in detecting metastatic disease and influencing treatment plans.

"Nearly one in four patients who initially were considered candidates for radical prostatectomy had their treatment plans altered after PET/CT staging, preventing a noncurative surgery in those with undetected metastatic disease," researchers noted.

A study published in Cureus found that quantitative parameters from 18F-FDG PET/CT, particularly maximum standardized uptake value, offered prognostic value in cases of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with an SUVmax higher than 3 had poorer survival, while visual assessment did not show significant differences.

A study in Scientific Reports found that organ-based tumor distribution using 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging may help predict outcomes in patients with small-cell lung cancer. Researchers developed models using a variety of measures to analyze overall survival in 520 patients. They found that organ-specific radiomic distribution features of the axial skeleton, peripheral skeleton and liver were among the strongest predictors of OS.

Researchers wrote in the journal Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews that 3D printing is advancing theranostic applications by creating complex, patient-specific implants and devices that integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functions. The technology supports the development of personalized health care tools, from macroscopic implants to microrobots.

A meta-analysis of 49 randomized controlled trials, published in a radiology journal, found that AI improved detection of colorectal adenomas and polyps, but not advanced adenomas or colorectal cancer. The study also noted improvements in the detection of breast and prostate cancers and actionable lung nodules, although those findings were based on single trials.

Utah, Virginia and New Jersey had the highest percentages of hospitals earning "A" grades for safety in the Leapfrog Group's latest report. Ninety-four percent of the hospitals with "A" grades are part of larger health systems. Five hospitals that received failing grades have filed a lawsuit against Leapfrog.

The CMS debuted a beta version of the national provider directory at the Health Tech Ecosystem Connectathon in Washington, D.C. This directory aims to help beneficiaries locate providers that accept Medicare, marking a significant step in the CMS' interoperability initiative, launched in collaboration with the White House. This initiative focuses on voluntary industry standards to improve health care data transfer and patient access.

The renewal of Affordable Care Act tax credits is facing challenges as the deadline approaches, with the Senate Finance Committee taking the lead. Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., are key figures in the discussions. Democrats want a clean extension, but Republicans are pushing for changes, including an income cap and minimum premium payments.