Month: March 2026

GE’s Photon-Counting CT Clearance

Posted on by Brian Casey

GE HealthCare this week announced FDA clearance for Photonova Spectra, the company’s first photon-counting CT scanner. While GE isn’t the first vendor with a commercially available PCCT scanner, it’s hoping to differentiate the system by highlighting the combination of ultrahigh-resolution scanning with spectral imaging.

Photon-counting CT represents a huge leap forward in CT instrumentation that’s not only driving new clinical applications but is also helping radiologists perform routine CT exams with better resolution and lower radiation dose. 

  • PCCT scanners directly convert photons to digital data, instead of using conventional CT’s two-step energy-integrating technique, resulting in images with less noise and supporting acquisition protocols with lower radiation dose. 

Siemens Healthineers brought the first photon-counting CT scanner to market with the 2021 FDA clearance of Naeotom Alpha.

  • Since then, Siemens has had the market for whole-body PCCT to itself, with only niche photon-counting scanners getting FDA clearance.

But we’re here to talk about GE’s Photonova Spectra, so let’s get to it. The system is based on GE’s Deep Silicon detector technology, which uses a novel semiconductor detector material that’s particularly suited for spectral imaging.

  • Spectral CT acquires images at different energy levels, which is useful for detecting disease because malignant and benign tissue respond differently to different energy spectra.    

GE is highlighting Photonova Spectra’s 8-bin energy resolution, which means the scanner separates incoming photons into eight distinct energy ranges – or bins – rather than grouping them into one or two. 

  • This enables Photonova Spectra to deliver much more precise spectral imaging than previously possible, with better quantitative accuracy and improved differentiation between materials like bone and soft tissue, according to GE CT executive Chad Rowland.

Spectral CT has developed a reputation as a technology that’s powerful but complex, and GE addressed this issue with workflow tools that make spectral imaging “always on” and easier than ever to perform. 

  • GE is banking on the combination of spectral imaging with Photonova Spectra’s ultrahigh-resolution images being a game-changer for many sites considering adopting their first PCCT scanner.

The Takeaway

FDA clearance for GE HealthCare’s Photonova Spectra photon-counting CT scanner is great news for the vendor that puts it on a level competitive footing with Siemens as a CT innovator. But it’s also good news for imaging providers, giving them another option for delivering to patients the benefits of PCCT – lower radiation dose and better image quality. 

The 40 Top Radiology Resources for 2026

Posted on by Brian Casey

Our list of the best radiology news sources last year generated a lot of excitement, so we’re updating the list for 2026 with the people and publications we rely on to find the most interesting medical imaging stories. 

Radiology has seen major changes in social media use since we last updated the list. Key opinion leaders briefly flirted with Bluesky as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter), but as the year went on enthusiasm waned as engagement faltered. Instead, LinkedIn seems to be emerging as the platform of choice for many clinicians and business executives.

Regardless of platform, this list of top radiology resources should keep you well-informed about healthcare’s top medical specialty.

TOP RADIOLOGY SITES

From a radiology newsletter with a laser focus on AI to an educational site with thousands of radiology cases, you’re sure to find something that meets your needs from the list below.

  • AI for Radiology – A great source for news on AI, including the Project AIR testing clearinghouse.
  • CTisUs – Elliott Fishman, MD’s excellent site for educational radiology content.
  • Medality Radiology Report Podcast – Medality CEO Daniel Arnold interviews the biggest names in medical imaging.
  • RadAccess – Newsletter run by Campbell Arnold, PhD, dedicated to improving access to radiology.
  • radHQ.net Forums – Public bulletin board that’s a great place to hear what keeps radiologists up at night. 
  • Radiopaedia – Excellent site for educational radiology content with a global focus.
  • Signify Research – The best radiology market analysis, backed by actual market data.

TOP RADIOLOGY KEY OPINION LEADERS 

Radiology is fortunate to have a wealth of really smart people sharing their thoughts. Here are a few of the best.

AI and Imaging IT

Business and Vendors

  • Jan Beger – OEM executive with insightful high-level thoughts on AI.
  • Morris Panner – Imaging IT executive with cogent takes on the intersection of technology and patient care. 
  • Sebastian Schmidt, MD – OEM executive with thought-provoking analysis of CT lung cancer screening.
  • Reza Zahiri – Detailed LinkedIn posts that deconstruct the financial positions of medical imaging vendors.

Education

  • Gennaro D’Anna, MD – Italian radiologist focusing on education and social media.
  • Francis Deng, MD – Great analysis of radiology education and residency trends.
  • Tan-Lucien Mohammed, MD – Radiologist with educational focus on radiology anatomy.
  • Amy Patel, MD – Tireless advocate for radiology (and the Kansas City Chiefs).
  • Vikas Shah, MD – Radiopaedia managing editor known for high-quality educational content.
  • Chaundria Singleton – Radiologic technologist educator and host of A Couple of Rad Techs podcast. 

Legal and Regulatory 

  • Sandy Coffta – Great source for information on U.S. reimbursement changes.
  • Tobias Gilk – Radiology’s conscience on MRI safety. 
  • Tom Greeson – The authority for perspectives on legal issues in radiology.
  • Hugh Harvey, MD – Excellent source on AI regulation.
  • Mark Weiss – Authoritative voice on legal issues in radiology. 

Practice Management and Leadership

  • Rich Duszak, MD – A superb source for radiology leadership and responsible imaging.
  • Jay Gurney – Executive recruiter and podcaster who hears about industry trends before they make headlines. 
  • Geraldine McGinty, MD – Still the moral compass of radiology.
  • Rasu Shrestha, MD – Radiologist-turned-health-executive.  
  • Ben White, MD – Excellent insights into the vagaries of being a working radiologist.

HEALTHCARE NEWSLETTERS AND WEBSITES 

Looking to get out of the radiology niche and broaden your horizons? Insight Links also offers newsletters covering the cardiology and digital health fields:

The Takeaway

This list should cover all your bases for staying informed about the latest developments in radiology news. Or, just sign up for The Imaging Wire and we’ll do it for you.

Mammo AI Momentum Builds

Posted on by Brian Casey

Momentum is building toward routine clinical use of AI for breast cancer screening. Several new studies offer even more support for mammography AI, including research published today in Nature Medicine in which AI reduced radiologist workload by over 60% by excluding low-risk studies from human review.

Breast screening has become one of the most promising use cases for AI, with the potential to reduce radiologists’ workload while improving their ability to detect cancer. 

  • For example, the recent MASAI study found that ScreenPoint Medical’s Transpara AI algorithm could replace the second human reader in a double-reading protocol, reducing workload by 44% and improving cancer detection rates by 28%.

The new research in Nature Medicine also used Transpara, as part of the AITIC study in Spain with the goal of seeing if AI could triage low-risk studies so they don’t require review by human radiologists. 

  • AITIC had a prospective design, involving 31k women with screening exams split between 2D mammography (17k) and digital breast tomosynthesis (14k). 

Women in the control arm of the study got conventional double reading by two radiologists – the standard mammography paradigm in Europe.

  • The intervention arm used a partially autonomous AI approach: cases that AI interpreted as low risk were classified as normal and were not reviewed by radiologists, while all other cases were double-read by radiologists using AI support.

In analyzing the results, researchers found…

  • Workload in the AI arm was 64% lower than conventional double reading.
  • AI’s workload reduction was similar between DBT and conventional digital mammography (-66% and -62%, respectively).
  • The AI arm’s cancer detection rate per 1k women was 15% higher (7.3 vs. 6.3 cancers).
  • But the recall rate was also 15% higher.

It’s worth noting that the AITIC study differed from MASAI in its inclusion of DBT screening exams, whereas MASAI only included 2D digital mammography. 

  • While 2D mammography is the norm in Europe, much of the U.S. has switched to DBT for breast screening, so the AITIC results offer good news for U.S. breast imaging practices considering AI adoption.

The Takeaway

The AITIC study’s new results are powerful confirmation of findings from the recent MASAI trial and support broader clinical deployment of mammography AI. Taken together with positive findings from last week’s Nature Cancer articles (see The Wire section in this newsletter), they paint a picture of a technology that’s ready for prime time.

Support for Prostate Cancer Screening Grows

Posted on by Brian Casey

Routine prostate cancer screening currently isn’t supported by clinical guidelines. But that could be changing, especially given research presented this week finding that prostate screening – aided by MRI to reduce unnecessary biopsies – was as effective as mammography screening. 

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, killing some 360k men worldwide every year. 

  • But efforts to develop effective prostate cancer screening programs have been hampered by the challenges inherent in PSA testing, which often identifies indolent disease that may never pose a health risk to patients – the classic definition of overdiagnosis. 

That could be starting to change, however. Researchers are discovering that using MRI to work up patients with rising PSA levels could help identify men with high-risk disease who should be sent to biopsy, while lower-risk patients are monitored with surveillance.

  • New research presented at the European Association of Urology meeting on Sunday supports this idea, showing that – if done right – prostate cancer screening can be as effective as mammography screening.

Researchers from Germany compared prostate cancer screening data from 39.4k men who got PSA tests as part of the PROBASE trial to over 2.8M women who participated in the country’s national breast cancer screening program. 

  • Under the PROBASE protocol, men with confirmed PSA levels ≥ 3 ng/mL underwent MRI and biopsy, while those with lower PSA levels got repeat PSA testing in an effort to keep biopsy rates lower.

Major findings of the study included…

  • Both breast and prostate screening detected a high rate of clinically significant, invasive cancers (73% for mammography vs. 69% for 45-year-old men and 74% for 50-year-old men).
  • False-positive rates were much lower for breast screening (10% vs. 42% and 37%).
  • And fewer indolent cancers were detected with mammography (22% vs. 31% and 26%). 
  • But biopsy rates were comparable (1.1% vs. 0.8% and 2.4%), as the study’s active surveillance protocol limited over-treatment.

While the PROBASE study didn’t use AI as part of its protocol, other research has found that AI analysis of MRI scans can make the modality even more precise, with the PI-CAI study just one worth noting.

The Takeaway

Is it finally time for prostate cancer screening to join breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung among the major population-based cancer screening tests? Results from the PROBASE study at EAU 2026 suggest the time may finally be right.

FDA Updates AI List with New Clearances

Posted on by Brian Casey

The FDA last week updated its list of cleared AI-enabled medical devices, with the new list showing AI marketing authorizations through the end of 2025. The updated list reveals that radiology is maintaining its lead as the medical specialty with the most clearances.

The FDA’s previous update featured data through the end of September 2025, and showed the number of AI-enabled medical devices for radiology crossed the 1k mark. The new numbers show continued momentum for medical imaging.

  • The agency’s data go all the way back to 1995 (the first cleared radiology device on the list was ImageChecker from R2 Technology/Hologic in 1998). 

The new list tracks authorizations through the end of December 2025, and indicates the agency has…

  • Authorized 1,451 AI-enabled medical devices since it began keeping track in 1995.
  • Approved 1,104 radiology devices, or 76% of total AI-enabled medical authorizations.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2025, the FDA cleared 72 AI-enabled medical devices, of which 55 (76%) were radiology devices. 
  • For all of 2025, radiology secured 75% of authorizations, compared to 73% for all of 2024 and 80% for 2023. 
  • GE HealthCare retained the top spot as the company with the most radiology AI authorizations at 120 (including acquisitions Bay Labs, BK Medical, Caption Health, MIM Software, icometrix, and Spectronic Medical).
  • Next is Siemens Healthineers at 89 (including Varian), then Philips at 50 (including DiA Analysis and TomTec), Canon at 45 (including Vital Images and Olea), United Imaging at 38, Aidoc at 31, and DeepHealth at 28 (including Quibim and iCAD). 

As we’ve noted in the past, the FDA’s list includes not only standalone software applications, but also imaging hardware with embedded AI applications, such as a mobile X-ray system with AI algorithms for detecting emergent conditions. 

The Takeaway

The new FDA list shows radiology’s continued dominance when it comes to AI-enabled medical device technology. But an interesting subtext is the ongoing consolidation in the radiology AI space, which could mean that some firms may be climbing the list quickly.

ECR 2026 Video Highlights

Posted on by Brian Casey

The 2026 edition of the European Congress of Radiology wrapped up last weekend, and the conference was full of breaking business and clinical news.

Artificial intelligence dominated the proceedings in Vienna, with researchers presenting the latest work in applying AI to breast and lung screening, neuroradiology, fracture detection, and other clinical use cases.

AI was also a hot story in the technical exhibits, with no fewer than three mergers/acquisitions announced during the show.

In this special edition of The Imaging Wire newsletter, we offer a recap of our ECR 2026 video interviews with thought leaders and imaging vendors from the exhibit floor. 

We hope you enjoy watching our ECR 2026 video coverage as much as we enjoyed producing it! 

Check out the ECR 2026 video links below or visit the Shows page on our website, and keep an eye out for our next Imaging Wire newsletter on Thursday.

Top Trends from ECR 2026

Posted on by Brian Casey

The 2026 edition of the European Congress of Radiology wrapped up last week, and both clinical and business news dominated the discussion in Vienna. 

Below are the top trends from ECR 2026…

  1. AI Consolidation Heats Up: ECR week saw no fewer than three merger/acquisition agreements between AI developers, a sign that consolidation in the segment is heating up. DeepHealth acquired Gleamer, Sectra bought Oxipit, and Medimaps and Radiobotics agreed to merge, indicating that a major shakeup could be in the offing as venture capital funding shifts toward larger AI players and smaller firms struggle for relevance.
  2. Mammography AI Nears Real-World Implementation: Large-scale prospective studies like MASAI demonstrated the ability of mammography AI to reduce radiologists’ workloads and improve their interpretive performance. ECR attendees learned of new AI applications for breast screening – like image-based risk assessment – that move AI ever closer to real-world implementation.
  3. CT Lung Cancer Screening Ramps Up: Numerous European countries are rolling out population-based CT lung cancer screening programs, and a number of ECR presentations discussed the progress being made as well as technologies like AI that can make lung screening more effective.
  4. ECR As a Vendor Showcase: In terms of vendor news, ECR has always operated in the shadow of radiology’s largest conference, RSNA, but this year’s meeting showed that may be changing. AI companies timed a raft of M&A announcements with ECR 2026, and other vendors coordinated product launches for the Vienna meeting.
  5. Radiology Refines Sustainability Message: Environmental sustainability and how to reduce radiology’s global footprint was a major theme at ECR 2025, and that carried over to ECR 2026. Vendors are offering new solutions like helium-free MRI scanners, while researchers are showing how power-saving scanning protocols can help radiology save patients and the planet at the same time.
  6. Geopolitical Turmoil Affects Attendance: Ongoing geopolitical turmoil definitely affected attendance at ECR 2026 as flights from the Middle East and India to Europe were canceled during the meeting. But as with the weather delays at RSNA 2025, conference proceedings continued on and the halls of Austria Center Vienna seemed as crowded as in past years.

The Takeaway

Last week’s ECR 2026 cemented the meeting’s reputation as a European counterpoint to radiology’s other major conference, RSNA. In some areas like mammography AI and CT lung cancer screening, European radiologists are moving ahead of their colleagues across the Atlantic.

Early News from ECR 2026

Posted on by Brian Casey

ECR 2026 opened yesterday with a light-filled opening ceremony that beautifully illustrated this year’s theme, “Rays of Knowledge.” The ceremony was conducted before an overflow audience in the Austria Center Vienna, with ECR 2026 President Prof. Minerva Becker proudly presiding over a mix of speeches, honorary awards, and musical performances for which ECR is famous.

ECR 2026 is taking place as European radiology reaches an inflection point. The region has workforce shortages that are as serious (if not more so) than the U.S., and it must also accommodate rising demand for medical imaging. 

As in the U.S., artificial intelligence is being held up as a potential solution to enable radiologists to do more with less. 

  • In some ways, Europe is ahead of the U.S., having conducted large-scale prospective trials like MASAI to test AI’s value for tasks like breast screening. One country – Italy – has even recommended that AI be used routinely for breast screening.  

But from a regulatory standpoint, skepticism toward AI may be even stronger in Europe than in the U.S. 

  • The European Union in 2024 implemented the AI Act to promote human-centered and trustworthy AI, and the act classifies AI algorithms as among the highest-risk devices. Some industry observers believe the act may already be slowing the introduction of new algorithms into the European market, even as the U.S. is removing regulatory guardrails on clinical AI.

Be that as it may, the ECR continues to reinforce its reputation as a forum for top-notch clinical content, and the first day of sessions did not disappoint. In particular, AI for lung cancer screening was a prominent focus, including the following sessions…

  • Harrison.ai’s chest CT AI algorithm turned in 91% sensitivity for detecting pulmonary nodules in 1.1k LDCT scans, with an average of 1.12 false positives per case.
  • Results from the RELIVE study of lung cancer screening in France showed that AI from Median Technologies boosted AUC for radiologists (0.843 vs. 0.828), with less experienced radiologists seeing a 4.8% AUC improvement. 
  • A survey of patients and clinicians in Northern Ireland found both groups were positive about using AI for lung cancer to reduce waiting times, but neither group liked the idea of autonomous AI.
  • The LUNA25 challenge tested AI algorithms developed by five teams for estimating malignancy risk of lung nodules, finding that the top AI had standalone AUC performance better than the average of 75 radiologists (0.78 vs. 0.69).
  • Dutch researchers tested four commercially available AI algorithms for LDCT lung screening, finding wide variation in sensitivity (77% to 92%).
  • Carebot’s AI CXR software was used to analyze 96.5k chest X-rays from nine Czech hospitals over six months, finding 54 previously undiagnosed thoracic cancers.

The Takeaway

ECR 2026 continues through Sunday, and we’ll be on hand in Vienna to bring you the latest news from radiology’s premier pan-European conference. Stay tuned for our wrap-up newsletter next week, or follow along with our daily video reports on our LinkedIn and YouTube channels.

Microsoft Sunsets PowerScribe 360 Reporting Software

Posted on by Brian Casey

In a move sure to shake the fast-growing radiology reporting segment, Microsoft has begun notifying customers that it is retiring its PowerScribe 360 software and will end renewal and maintenance in August in favor of its newer cloud-based PowerScribe One reporting technology.

Microsoft began sending “end-of-life” letters to its customer base last week, confirming rumors circulating for months that it was backing away from PowerScribe 360. 

  • Microsoft is recommending that PowerScribe 360 customers transition to PowerScribe One, a newer cloud-based reporting solution available on a subscription basis rather than as an on-premises installation, as is the case with PowerScribe 360.

The company confirmed the news in an email to The Imaging Wire…

“Microsoft is retiring the on-premises product, PowerScribe 360, as part of a broader effort to ensure our customers continue to benefit from secure, future-ready solutions like PowerScribe One – which has cloud and AI capabilities at its core. This transition reflects our broader focus on providing solutions that empower healthcare organizations to meet the demands of modern care delivery securely and at scale. We are working closely with our customers to ensure a smooth transition.”

The news marks the end of the road for PowerScribe 360, which was originally developed by Nuance Communications and rose to become the dominant reporting solution for radiologists. 

  • Nuance launched PowerScribe 360 at RSNA 2010, and radiologists quickly adopted the technology, drawn to its improved speech recognition accuracy and structured reporting templates. Soon the company held 75% of the U.S. market for radiology reporting solutions.

Nuance introduced PowerScribe One in 2018 as the next generation of the software. Three years later Nuance was acquired by Microsoft and folded into Microsoft’s healthcare business. 

  • Microsoft’s strategy was to transition PowerScribe 360 users to PowerScribe One, which not only included newer tools but was also cloud-based with a regular subscription fee. This reportedly alienated many radiology customers who had already paid to have an on-premises reporting solution.  

Indeed, it only took a few years for rumors to begin circulating that Microsoft was looking to sunset PowerScribe 360 (despite many existing users), as evidenced by a recent Reddit thread on the topic. 

  • Last week’s EOL notifications inform customers that PowerScribe is being retired “as part of a broader effort to ensure our customers continue to benefit from secure, modern, and future ready solutions.” 

The letter goes on to state that PowerScribe users will need to convert to the latest version of PowerScribe One. This will require monthly payments even if they already “owned” PowerScribe 360.

  • What’s more, pricing agreements with Nuance or Microsoft will no longer be valid after the renewal date, and Microsoft will no longer provide support after the end-of-life date.

The news comes as radiology reporting is being transformed by new technology, particularly solutions driven by generative AI with large language models. 

  • Multiple startups are leveraging dissatisfaction with legacy solutions to offer reporting applications that promise more efficient workflow, and some offer better integration with image viewers and worklists to give radiologists a more unified reading experience. 

We’re also seeing a growing number of major PACS players announce new reporting solutions or outline future plans to add reporting capabilities, further complicating the market.

The Takeaway

The news that Microsoft is pulling the plug on PowerScribe 360 isn’t a surprise given the software’s age, persistent rumors of its demise, and Microsoft’s strategic focus on PowerScribe One. But it clears the field for what’s sure to be a scramble for the reporting application’s large market share.

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