The Potential Value of β-Amyloid Imaging for the Diagnosis and Management of Dementia: A Survey of Clinicians.

We assessed the potential influence of β-amyloid imaging on clinician diagnoses and management of patients with memory loss. We surveyed 315 clinicians, assigning each a vignette describing a hypothetical patient with symptoms of unexplained mild cognitive impairment, possible Alzheimer disease (AD), or young-onset dementia. Vignettes reported "positive," "negative," or no β-amyloid imaging information.

Costs of Diagnostic Assessment for Lung Cancer: A Medicare Claims Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic costs leading up to a lung cancer diagnosis in patients with abnormal computed tomography (CT) scans.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study using the 5% Medicare claims data (January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2011) was conducted. Patients aged 65 to 74 years with an abnormal chest CT scan were identified.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Iodine-123 Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine Imaging for Screening Heart Failure Patients Eligible for an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in the USA.

Background: Many guideline-eligible heart failure (HF) patients do not receive a survival benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Improved risk stratification may help to reduce costs and improve the cost effectiveness of ICDs.

Objective: To estimate the potential outcomes, costs, and cost effectiveness of using iodine-123 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (I-mIBG) to screen HF patients eligible for an ICD.

Effective and efficient diagnosis of parkinsonism: the role of dopamine transporter SPECT imaging with ioflupane I-123 injection (DaTscan™).

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second-most common neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms. PD is often misdiagnosed; inappropriate treatment due to misdiagnosis has undesired consequences, as does delayed diagnosis. Unfortunately, most people with PD receive a diagnosis only after motor symptoms have emerged, by which time 40% to 60% of dopamine neurons have already been lost.