November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Learning never stops in globalized world of healthcare By Donna Domino Lifelong learning in an era of globalized healthcare science and practice is essential, according to Sunday's opening session of RSNA 2008, which also stressed the need for standardization in training and certification. RSNA president Dr. Theresa McLoud noted that the concept of lifelong learning, named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 11:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Laitek speeds data migration By Greg Freiherr Sites saddled with an aging PACS have to worry, at least a little, about the transition to a new one. Homewood, IL-based Laitek considered the problem of getting from PACS A to B in the development of an enhanced data migration package, dubbed Migratek Version 2 Advanced Migration Services, which debuted at RSNA 2008. Laitek is pitching its enhanced version of Migratek as being five to 10 times faster than…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 11:00pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. IT providers combine telerad and PACS By Greg Freiherr PACS/IT vendor Emageon and teleradiology provider Virtual Radiologic showcased teleradiology products at the RSNA meeting. Emageon's Outside Study Gateway (OSG) allows facilities to transmit PACS images to a recipient hospital's PACS. Studies are transmitted securely across a virtual private network, with OSG software automatically performing integrity checks of the data. Virtual Radiologic's feature…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Invivo unveils next-generation MR-compatible monitor By Greg Freiherr Invivo introduced at RSNA 2008 its sixth-generation vital signs monitor for use in MR suites. The Precess Patient Management Configuration uses the industry's first wireless ECG and wireless SpO2 patient vital signs. Built on the company's flagship Precess 3160 platform, the new system features a flexible mounting that allows attachment to anesthesia machines, a wall, or an MRI table.…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. IMIX unveils new DR products By Greg Freiherr Digital radiography specialist IMIX Americas introduced at RSNA 2008 two DR systems and software for processing radiographs. Designed for smaller facilities, the compact SomaRad DR system can be installed in rooms with ceilings only eight feet high. The ChiroRad DR system is tailored to fit chiropractic offices. IMIX workstation software, with an enhanced user interface, allows the seamless integration of…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. GE features new flagship CT By Greg Freiherr The superpremium Discovery CT750 HD (high definition) CT scanner debuted Sunday in the GE Healthcare booth. It features technology shown as work-in-progress at last year's RSNA meeting that boosts spatial resolution to 230 microns and improves contrast resolution 33% in the body to 21.5 lp/cm and 47% in the heart to 14 lp/cm, according to the company. Another improvement, Volume Shuttle, extends the breadth of…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Following simple steps can minimize risk of being sued By Philip Ward Legal and regulatory issues have a growing impact on how radiologists perform procedures and studies, report results, and structure their practices. Implementing a simple checklist may help to reduce the prospect of being sued for malpractice. "Most radiologists lack insight on, and guidance to, the relevant issues. This creates an environment of confusion and conflict that benefits…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Diffusion tensor imaging measurements may help diagnosis of spinal cord trauma By Donna Domino A new technique may help characterize diffusion anisotropy in the spinal cord in a clinical setting. Researchers have determined that using 3D single-shot diffusion-weighted stimulated echo-planar imaging in the cervical spinal cord results in higher resolution and less distortion than 2D single-shot diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging. Although…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. CTC surveillance edges optical coloscopy for management of small polyps By John C. Hayes Using surveillance of 6 to 9-mm polyps with CT colonography instead of referring them for immediate colonoscopy and polypectomy provides a significant cost-effectiveness edge, according to a study presented Sunday. Death rates might increase by a small amount with a CTC surveillance strategy, but it would avoid nearly 10,000 colonoscopy referrals and, with them, 10…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 10:00pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Viztek offers CR/PACS combo By Greg Freiherr If digital radiography beckons but funds are a problem, Viztek may have the answer. The company introduced at RSNA 2008 a turnkey CR/PACS. Its new Opal-MD combines enterprise-level Opal-RAD PACS with Kodak's Point-of-Care CR. The value-priced package is designed specifically for private practice physicians, yet it will deliver a range of advanced features. These include digital image viewing in multiple exam…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Triage using coronary CTA permits early discharge from ER By James Brice Results of a three-year trial at Massachusetts General Hospital show that half of patients presenting with chest pain but at low or intermediate risk of acute coronary syndrome can be safely discharged following a negative 64-slice coronary CT evaluation. The Rule-out Myocardial Infarction Using Computer-Assisted Tomography (ROMICAT) study prospectively evaluated 368 patients who…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. SuperSonic builds on breast elastrography By Greg Freiherr Elastrography forms the cornerstone of an ultrasound system unveiled by first-time RSNA exhibitor SuperSonic Imagine. The Aixplorer system is dedicated to breast imaging. It differentiates healthy from cancerous tissues by quantifying differences in the elasticity of the tissues. SuperSonic's ShearWave Elastography technique produces consistent results regardless of the operator's skill,…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Standardized chemoembolization protocol boosts liver cancer patient survival By H.A. Abella Results from the largest and longest trial of its kind suggest that patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinomas who undergo systematic treatment with three chemotherapeutic agents and arterial embolization plus imaging follow-up have better survival rates than those who undergo nonstandardized chemoembolization regimes. That was the message…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Siemens unveils flagship low-dose, high-res CT By Greg Freiherr A new CT scanner built on Siemens' unique dual-source x-ray technology promises to dramatically reduce dose and eliminate motion artifact in the chest. Using two x-ray tubes and matching detectors, the Somatom Definition Flash, debuted at RSNA 2008, opens the door to routine scanning of the coronaries, according to the company. It requires only a fraction of the radiation dose of other…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Resonance Technology puts patient comfort on top By Greg Freiherr Patient comfort during MR and the efficiency of functional MR got a boost at RSNA 2008 with the unveiling by Resonance Technology of enhancements to its CinemaVision audio video systems and FuncLAB automated fMRI image data processor. A new audio phone is integrated into CinemaVision's headset. This enables the technologist to hear the patient distinctly during scans and allows for…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:00pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Philips ultrasound upgrade targets breast imaging By Greg Freiherr Enhancements in breast imaging mark the latest ultrasound upgrade from Philips Healthcare. Tissue aberration correction technology and algorithms built into the Vision 2009 upgrade for its iU22 radiological flagship are part of an integrated effort to better define tissue in fatty breasts, according to the company. An enabling technology is the Philips PureWave transducer and its coded…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 8:00pm —
No Comments
November 30, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Philips introduces ‘big-bore’ PET/CT By Greg Freiherr In a bid to extend radiation oncology applications, engineers at Philips Healthcare have widened the bore of the company's premium Gemini TF PET/CT scanner to create the industry's first big-bore hybrid. Priced north of $2 million, the Gemini TF Big Bore is scheduled to begin shipping next year. Philips is showcasing the Big Bore this week on the RSNA exhibit floor, and beta testing will begin at the…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 30, 2008 at 7:30pm —
No Comments
November 26, 2008 Natural history of invasive breast cancer suggests some cancers regress By Rebekah Moan Unexpected findings from a study of Norwegian women who have and have not received routine biennial screening mammography suggest some breast cancers may spontaneously regress. Dr. Per-Henrik Zahl, a senior statistician in the epidemiology department at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, and colleagues compared cumulative breast cancer incidence in age-matched cohorts of…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 26, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 26, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging North America - December 2008 COVER STORY By: Donna Domino * Remaking the grade: Delayed resident testing stirs debate DEPARTMENTS Agenda By: John C. Hayes * Expert brings insights, history, strong opinions to NSF controversy Overread * European hospitals cope with Mo-99 supply crisis * 3T MRI alone outperforms enhanced MR arthrography * Ultrasound unveils source of stump pain in amputees * Molecular imaging scientist shares Nobel Prize for Chemistry * 3T MR…
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 26, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
November 25, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. RSNA Preview: Trials examine added value of advanced breast imaging strategies By Rebekah Moan Themes emerging from breast imaging abstracts at the upcoming RSNA include the increased use of breast MRI, full-field digital mammography versus film-screen mammography, and more. There is a special session on Tuesday looking at breast cancer risk: how to measure it and what to do with it. …
Continue
Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 25, 2008 at 8:30pm —
No Comments
