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April 2009 Blog Posts (42)

Brain and spine imaging benefit from increased field strength

April 30, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Brain and spine imaging benefit from increased field strength Jump in resolution and acquisition speed from 1.5T to 3T allows precise measurement of neurotransmitter concentrations Karen Sandrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neuroimaging with MRI at 3T is superior for nearly every application in the brain and spine, and it is certainly inferior for none. The technique has unique strengths for performing… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 30, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Best practice guidelines earn praise, criticism from radiology benefit managers

April 30, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Best practice guidelines earn praise, criticism from radiology benefit managers By H.A. Abella A white paper on imaging preauthorization guidelines produced by the American College of Radiology and the Radiology Business Management Association has drawn mixed reactions, particularly among radiology benefit managers. The benefit managers agree that management programs may lack consistency and add costs. But they also worry the guidelines may weaken efforts to… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 30, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Win $100 for Submitting Images to RadiologyInfo.org!

Residents, fellows, radiologic technologists, physics students, and medical students are invited to submit images or video clips for placement on the RSNA-ACR public information Web site, RadiologyInfo.org, for a chance to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card.

If you wish to submit, first determine the specific page of RadiologyInfo.org where the image or video clip belongs.

Members of the RSNA-ACR Public Information Web Site Committee will review the submissions to determine… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 29, 2009 at 1:27pm — 1 Comment

Breast cancer risk in young women suggests need for early monitoring

April 29, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Breast cancer risk in young women suggests need for early monitoring By Rebekah Moan An MRI study of risk factors for breast cancer in young women, including teenagers, concluded that risk assessment and prevention should start much earlier in life than previously recommended. The Canadian study suggests using imaging techniques that avoid patient exposure to ionizing radiation. Researchers have known for years that mammographic density is a significant risk… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 29, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

radiology music video added to Radiology Art group

Stop by and see the video added to the Radiology Art group on radRounds!

http://www.radrounds.com/group/radiologyart

Best,
Satre

Added by Satre Stuelke on April 28, 2009 at 7:57pm — No Comments

Whole-body CT bolsters survival hopes of polytrauma patients

April 28, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Whole-body CT bolsters survival hopes of polytrauma patients By H.A. Abella Seriously injured patients have a better chance of surviving multiple trauma when they are evaluated in the emergency room with whole-body CT, according to a study of more than 4500 cases from Germany. The number of early trauma centers that have added whole-body CT to their protocols is increasing worldwide. But little published evidence documents the procedure's impact on polytrauma… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 28, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Mistrust, costs reduce breast cancer screening among minorities

April 27, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Mistrust, costs reduce breast cancer screening among minorities By H.A. Abella Distrust of healthcare providers, cultural barriers, lack of information about the benefits of screening, or simply the need to cut corners might all contribute to the levels of compliance for breast cancer screening among minorities, including African American, Hispanic, and lesbian/bisexual women, recent studies show. In one of the studies, Michigan State University researchers… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 27, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Insurer wants boost for primary care at imaging’s expense

April 24, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Insurer wants boost for primary care at imaging’s expense By H.A. Abella The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has recommended boosting payments to primary care physicians and paying for them with cuts to imaging services. The suggestion came during a congressional hearing on healthcare reform held by the Senate Finance Committee. Imaging proponents say they will challenge any proposal lacking evidence to support it. "To attain the goal of having everyone… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 24, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Educating Referring Clinicians About Benefits/Risk of Advanced Imaging Leads to Drop in Imaging Exams

ARRS - Educating Referring Clinicians About Benefits/Risk of Advanced Imaging Leads to Drop in Imaging Exams

Unnecessary advanced imaging (CT, MRI and nuclear medicine) can be significantly reduced by providing a simple intervention of education to ordering physicians of the risks, benefits and alternatives of various imaging modalities, according to a study performed at Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island, NY.

“Given the increased awareness of radiation… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 24, 2009 at 3:28am — No Comments

3T MRI Detects “Early” Breast Cancer Not Seen on Mammography and Sonography

ARRS - 3T MRI Detects “Early” Breast Cancer Not Seen on Mammography and Sonography

3T MRI, a powerful tool for evaluating patients with a high risk of having breast cancer, can detect a significant number of lesions not found on mammography and sonography, according to a study performed at the University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH.

The study included 434 women who underwent mammography, sonography and 3T MRI for the detection of malignant breast lesions—all women… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 24, 2009 at 3:24am — No Comments

CT Scans Increase Cancer Risk Estimates in Multiply-Imaged Emergency Department Patients

ARRS - CT Scans Increase Cancer Risk Estimates in Multiply-Imaged Emergency Department Patients

Physicians should review a patient’s CT imaging history and cumulative radiation dose when considering whether to perform another CT exam, according to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.

The study included 130 patients who had at least three emergency department visits within one year in which… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 24, 2009 at 3:23am — No Comments

New Resources for IIPs Include Practical Imaging Informatics Text

New Resources for IIPs Include Practical Imaging Informatics Text

April 23, 2009 – Leesburg, VA – The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) announces tools and training to help medical informatics professionals stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment. Shrinking budgets and critical system reviews are requiring imaging informatics professionals (IIPs) to continually grow in their positions. SIIM can help IIPs become essential to their organizations through two… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 23, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Criminal investigators search Siemens office

April 23, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Criminal investigators search Siemens office By Greg Freiherr Investigators from the U.S. Department of Defense executed a search warrant April 22 at the Malvern, PA, office of Siemens Medical Solutions USA, seeking evidence of wrongdoing associated with a government contract between the DoD and Siemens. The search focused on a single floor of one building on the Malvern campus, according to spokesperson Lance Longwell. Information about the specific contract… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 23, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Zerhouni returns to Johns Hopkins University

April 23, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Zerhouni returns to Johns Hopkins University By H.A. Abella Dr. Elias Zerhouni, the first board-certified radiologist to serve as chief of the National Institutes of Health, will rejoin Johns Hopkins University as a senior adviser to the $4 billion Hopkins Medicine institution after a six-and-a-half year stint at the NIH. He will focus on academic medicine innovation. "With a new administration in Washington, a global economic downturn, and anticipated reforms… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 23, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

ACRIN sets sights on noncancer imaging research

April 22, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. ACRIN sets sights on noncancer imaging research By H.A. Abella The American College of Radiology Imaging Network will expand its research scope beyond cancer to add applications that advance clinical care in areas such as neuro and cardiovascular imaging. ACRIN started its first noncancer imaging research in 2006 by creating the Cardiovascular Committee with funding provided by the ACR and corporate donors. In the same year, it also launched a multicenter… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 22, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Drug-eluting stents boost survival in patients with coronary stenosis

April 21, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Drug-eluting stents boost survival in patients with coronary stenosis By H.A. Abella Coronary artery stenosis patients age 65 and older have better survival chances when they are treated with drug-coated stents than with bare metal stents, according to findings of a study involving more than a quarter million Medicare recipients. The study, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the American College of Cardiology, is the largest to… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on April 21, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

ARRS 2009 | 109th Annual American Roentgen Ray Society Meeting in Boston!

radRounds (BOSTON) - This year, thousands of radiologists and medical imaging professionals will convene in the city of Boston to join in this year's annual ARRS meeting.

Message from Jack Crowe, MD - President of ARRS:

"... Radiologists, residents, and their guests will gather in Boston for the ARRS’ 2009 Annual Meeting for educational opportunities, social camaraderie, and matchless professional opportunities. It is no… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 21, 2009 at 2:48am — No Comments

Radiologists, cardiologists pair up to treat atrial fibrillation

April 20, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Radiologists, cardiologists pair up to treat atrial fibrillation By Rebekah Moan Radiologists and cardiologists may find themselves collaborating more than ever before to treat atrial fibrillation; a new study shows the value of delayed-enhanced MRI to determine whether therapy can be successful, bridging the gap between the two specialties. Delayed-enhanced MRI (DE-MRI) noninvasively shows damage to left atrial myocardial tissue and also predicts how well… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 20, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

GE Healthcare and Saudi Arabia Ministry form joint venture to Train Medical Professionals

radRounds (Riyadh) -- GE Healthcare has signed a major agreement with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health to train medical professionals.

Jan De Witte of GE Healthcare states ""Our association with the ministry is a landmark agreement for GE Healthcare in Saudi Arabia... We are privileged to share our learning materials and change management experiences with the Saudi professionals."

GE plans to train more than 600 radiology technologists with specialty in MRI, CT, and… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 20, 2009 at 6:36pm — No Comments

Former NIH Director Zerhouni Rejoins Johns Hopkins Medicine as Senior Adviser

radRounds (Baltimore, MD) - After a successful tenure at the NIH, physician and radiologist, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health from 2002 to 2008, and former Johns Hopkins Medicine executive vice dean has now accepted a position at Johns Hopkins to return as senior advisor to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The JHU Gazette quotes Dr. Zerhouni as saying "Hopkins is truly a second home for me, and I am honored to rejoin Ed Miller and the Hopkins family in this capacity. We… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on April 20, 2009 at 6:33pm — No Comments