Total U.S. health care spending will increase at an annual average rate of 5.8% to nearly $4.64 trillion for the period 2010 through 2020--1.1% faster than expected growth in the gross domestic product (GDP).

Such techniques as lower tube current, automatic exposure control, and reduced tube voltage rank among keys to significantly reducing radiation dose from CT of the head, paranasal sinuses, and spine, according to a study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is soliciting public comments regarding last week's report on its 510(k) process for regulating medical devices.

Cuts to diagnostic imaging services are not included in the initial measures called for in the debt limit agreement approved yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in a move to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the near-term possibility of a default by the U.S. on its fiscal obligations.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), a Minneapolis, Minn.-based developer of interventional devices, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application and clinical trial protocol to begin evaluating its Advisa DR MRI™ SureScan® pacing system.

A study published Friday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) found that computer-aided detection (CAD) software used to help analyze and interpret mammography images does not improve the accuracy of mammograms in detecting breast cancer.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) have issued a statement claiming that the results of a British study have little bearing on, or resemblance to, screening in the U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should gather the information needed to develop a new regulatory framework to replace the 35-year-old 510(k) clearance process for medical devices, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) advises in a long-awaited report commissioned by the agency and released today.