DUBLIN — April 9, 2018 — Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin an investigational device exemption (IDE) pivotal trial to evaluate the Symplicity Spyral(TM) renal denervation system in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension).

At the April meeting of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the panel voted to recommend a 30 percent cut to payment rates for standalone emergency departments (EDs) and indicated it may suggest action on hospital quality reporting later this year.

New research published online April 3 in Radiology found that mammography recall rates are correlated with higher rates of breast cancer detected between screenings.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) released an update to its clinical guideline for the use of palliative-intent radiation therapy for patients with incurable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) have published new breast cancer screening guidelines, once again recommending that all women begin annual screening at age 40.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) released updated breast cancer screening guidelines, April 4—the first to recognize black women face higher risks for the disease and should be screened accordingly.

A new positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent could help guide and evaluate treatments for people with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis, according to a release from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

According to a longitudinal study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, depression relapse may be triggered by a patient's initial major depressive disorder (MDD) experience that causes morphologic changes in brain regions responsible for regulating emotions and cognitive control.