November 25, 2008 RSNA preview: New session covers advancements made in Japan By Rebekah Moan The RSNA will underscore the unique achievements of Japanese imaging researchers in "Japan Presents," a presentation of seven scientific papers focusing on diagnostic radiology. On Monday, Dec. 1, each paper will be introduced with the Japanese spin on ideas and concepts. "Professor [Kuni] Ohtomo and I chose the most up-to-date studies in CT technology and MRI in Japan," said session moderator Dr.…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 25, 2008 at 8:30pm —
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November 25, 2008 Nuclear imaging studies bounce back from 2006 decline By H.A. Abella Nearly 16 million U.S. patients underwent nuclear imaging procedures in 2007, according to a report by marketing research firm IMV Medical Information Division. The figure shows a 3% jump compared with the 15.2 million patients who had a nuclear medicine exam back in 2006. Approximately 15.7 million patients underwent these procedures in 7320 hospital and nonhospital sites during 2007. The figure represents a…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 25, 2008 at 8:30pm —
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November 24, 2008 Study quantifies report turnaround and productivity improvements under PACS By Douglas Page A five-year hospital audit showed PACS use leads to sustained improvements in productivity and reporting times, according to a recent U.K. study. In the three years following PACS installation in 2003, reporting times were found to have decreased by 25% and productivity improved by 18% at St. George's Hospital NHS Trust in London (Clin Radiol 2008;63(7):796-804). …
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 24, 2008 at 8:30pm —
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November 21, 2008 Postelection moves signal healthcare reform action By James Brice President-elect Barack Obama's appointment of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to head the Department of Health and Human Services, combined with a commitment from insurers and a detailed plan from the chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, suggests strongly that healthcare reform will be a top priority for the new administration and the 111th Congress. As director of the federal department…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 21, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 21, 2008 Imaging takes a hard check By Greg Freiherr "Skate to where the puck is going, not to where it is," Wayne Gretzky said. The medical imaging community would love to follow this advice in planning its future. The problem is that nobody knows where the puck is going.
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 21, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 RSNA preview: Scientific sessions expand limits of imaging diagnosis and guidance By James Brice There is nothing like a little momentum to help the RSNA organizers present the latest developments in imaging research in the meeting's scientific sessions. Everyone associated with imaging sciences from Beijing to New York City understands that presenting research in Chicago is an essential requirement for membership in this unique community. More than 210 volunteers assigned to…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. RSNA preview: Focus sessions explore imaging controversies By James Brice You can tell by the titles of special focus sessions planned for the 2008 RSNA that program committee chair Dr. Robert M. Quencer sees an opportunity to use the sessions to examine tough issues affecting clinical imaging practice. Nothing creates more tension for community-based radiologists than an increasing workload. “Imaging Overload: Dealing with It,” aims specifically at this…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 RSNA preview: CT coronary angiography, CT colonography gain widespread use By Donna Domino Highlights of the 2008 RSNA meeting include discussions about the use of CT angiography as a noninvasive technique for diagnosing coronary artery disease and the replacement of standard optical colonoscopy with CT colonography to screen for colon cancer. Coronary CTA is a hot topic, said Dr. David Levin, professor emeritus of radiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. …
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. RSNA preview: Cancer specialists voice mixed feelings about oncology imaging By Shalmali Pal RSNA presentations on prostate cancer staging and treatment, along with talks on radiation therapy for thoracic malignancies, have piqued the interest of cancer care specialists. But in general, oncologists and radiation oncologists conveyed some reservations about this year's offerings in oncologic imaging and therapies. Dr. Thomas Smith from Virginia…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. RSNA preview: CAD improves detection of pulmonary embolisms By Donna Domino Computer-aided detection significantly improves the sensitivity of pulmonary embolism imaging, according to a study that will be presented at the 2008 RSNA meeting. Other studies show that specially developed CAD schemes can detect flat lesions that are often missed in CT colonography. "There has been steady improvement over the years in the sensitivity and specificity of nodule…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 20, 2008 Medicare rule against broader reimbursement for carotid stenting spurs debate By H.A. Abella A decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services not to expand coverage for carotid artery stenting has stirred mixed responses among physicians who are either outraged with the denial or satisfied that the decision was scientifically sound. Following the Oct. 14 decision, Medicare reimbursement remains restricted to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and carotid…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 20, 2008 at 9:00pm —
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November 19, 2008 U.K. study finds PACS associated with exam increases and decreases By Douglas Page Gains attributed directly to healthcare IT are difficult to quantify. A large U.K. study that recently attempted to assess the impact of PACS and computerized physician order entry on clinical and operational efficiencies within the National Health System found each component associated with both increases and decreases in clinical tests and examinations. "Assumptions of substantial efficiency…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 19, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 19, 2008 Echo society guides ultrasound contrast use By Greg Freiherr Ultrasound contrast agents took a hit on the chin a year ago when the FDA decided to issue a black-box label for them warning physicians of potentially fatal reactions. The black-box labeling of the echocardiography agents was imposed after more than 100 cases of serious cardiopulmonary reactions and at least four deaths from cardiac arrest were reported during their administration. In spring, the label was modified…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 19, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 18, 2008 RSNA preview: Musculoskeletal radiology evolves from anatomic to functional imaging By H.A. Abella Highlights of the 2008 RSNA meeting suggest the field of musculoskeletal radiology is moving away from purely descriptive imaging studies and more into quantitative ones. Research is advancing the understanding of tissue function and underlying anomalies as well as image-guided treatment options. One of the unifying themes this year is an emphasis on tissue characterization, said…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 18, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 18, 2008 Researchers find temporary epicardial leads safe, temporary intracardiac leads unsafe for MRI use* By Frank G. Shellock, Ph.D., FACC, FACSM Although MRI examinations in patients with retained temporary epicardial leads, which consist of electrically conductive material, could theoretically lead to cardiac excitation or thermal injury, such leads are relatively short in length, usually do not form large loops, and are generally not believed to pose a significant risk during MRI…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 18, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 16, 2008 Alzheimer’s-related plaques appear in brains of symptom-free adults By University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Media Relations Fluorine-18 Pittsburgh Compound B, an imaging agent that could facilitate the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, has been used to identify amyloid deposition in the brains of cognitively normal adults. The findings could not only shed more light on how the illness progresses, but also open the door to possible prevention strategies, said senior…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 16, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 14, 2008 System links fax to PACS automatically By Douglas Page Accessing patient information remains a challenge in teleradiology settings, but researchers have found a way to incorporate this information in DICOM image files. Current solutions to this problem generally take the form of faxing clinical paperwork to teleradiologists. This method, however, is cumbersome, requires manual intervention, and is untenable once more than a few patients are involved. …
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 14, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 14, 2008 Proper hydration enhances contrast-induced nephropathy prevention By H.A. Abella Pre-imaging intravenous hydration with sodium chloride remains the best prophylactic approach against contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with impaired renal function who must undergo coronary angiography, according to results from a large multicenter trial. Contrast-induced nephropathy leads to considerable complications, prolonged hospital stays, and nearly $200 million a year in healthcare…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 14, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 14, 2008 On the edge of a digital black hole By Greg Freiherr It seems like we have been waiting forever for PACS to arrive. The first of these systems appeared three decades ago, an anomaly on the RSNA exhibit floor. They were the harbingers of a technology whose use, unlike that of CT or MR scanners, produced no revenue. Their adoption required so much: an embrace of efficiency, the digitalization of radiography, and a willingness to soft-read every imaging study. It would be nice to…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 14, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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November 13, 2008 Report from AHA: Vulnerable plaques factor into heart attack risk calculation By James Brice A combined diagnostic approach enhances clinical assessment of heart attack risk, according to a lecture at an American Heart Association conference this week. Such an approach would take into account vulnerable arterial plaques, traditional risk factors, and measures of atherosclerotic disease severity. Dr. Morteza Naghavi, founder and chair of Screening for Heart Attack Prevention…
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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on November 13, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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