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Cognition-enhancing modafinil shows addictive properties

March 18, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Cognition-enhancing modafinil shows addictive properties By James Brice Students may think they are getting smarter from the cognitive boost possible with prescription drug modafinil. They need to learn, however, that claims about its lack of serious side effects are wrong. A National Institutes of Health study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2009;301[11]:1148-1154) used PET to demonstrate that modafinil can be… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 18, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Madoff: A Radiology Partner??

radRounds (NEW YORK) -- Apparently, Bernie Madoff didn't leave any stone unturned. He also has invested his (stolen) money into radiology practices.

According to Bloomberg News (3/17/09): "Assets sought by prosecutors include the Madoffs’ interest in Hoboken Radiology LLC. Ruth Madoff is one of nine members of Hoboken Radiology, a radiology practice in Hoboken, New Jersey, said Gary Berger, its administrator. She invested in the business in 2004, Berger said. He declined to say how… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on March 18, 2009 at 1:19am — No Comments

Groups challenge plan to slash imaging technology payments

March 16, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Groups challenge plan to slash imaging technology payments By H.A. Abella Access to Medical Imaging Coalition, a partnership among various professional and trade political interests, has rebutted a proposal by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to change the formula for calculating practice expense relative value units for advanced imaging exams. Coalition members argue that MedPAC's plan is based on flawed information. They point to an independent… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 16, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Anonymized Radiology Forums launched per member request!

We have launched the radRounds Anonymized Radiology Forums per many many requests from our users. You can visit the
anonymized radiology forum here! Check it out and let us know what you think.

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on March 15, 2009 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Second look at x-ray, CT exams could reduce diagnostic errors

March 13, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Second look at x-ray, CT exams could reduce diagnostic errors By James Brice Simple physician checklists, diagnostic decision-support systems, or second looks at medical imaging exams could help to reduce the estimated 40,000 to 80,000 hospital deaths in the U.S. from diagnostic errors. Writing for the March 11 Journal of the American Medical Association, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine physicians Dr. David Newman-Toker and Dr. Peter Pronovost… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 13, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Report from SIR: Interventionalists assess fluorescing stem cells to treat peripheral vascular disease

March 12, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Report from SIR: Interventionalists assess fluorescing stem cells to treat peripheral vascular disease By H.A. Abella Using biotechnology developed from fireflies and seaweed, Johns Hopkins researchers are developing radiopaque stem cells for targeted delivery of therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease. The technique may allow guidance and tracking of stem cell injections meant to grow new blood vessels and offer a way to confirm therapy response.… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 12, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Simple solution could cut long MRI wait times in Canada

March 11, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Simple solution could cut long MRI wait times in Canada By H.A. Abella Referring physicians and MR imaging centers in Canada could substantially reduce wait times by sticking to standard rules dictating scanning priorities and appropriate clinical indications. Trouble is, according to a study from the University of Calgary, those guidelines already exist but few pay heed. As the U.S. enters its first serious debate on healthcare reform in more than a decade,… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 11, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Report from ECR: Imaging checklist holds key to hepatocellular carcinoma prediction

March 10, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Report from ECR: Imaging checklist holds key to hepatocellular carcinoma prediction By Paula Gould Mountaineering metaphors provided the framework for Sunday's Josef Lissner honorary lecture: Ode to the liver. "The liver, in my opinion, is for radiologists what the Matterhorn is for alpinists. It is a sort of litmus test for measuring your skills," said Prof. Carlo Bartolozzi, chair of radiology at the University of Pisa in Italy. Bartolozzi began by… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 10, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Report from ECR: Correct modality choice proves essential in head and neck trauma

March 9, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Report from ECR: Correct modality choice proves essential in head and neck trauma By Philip Ward CT and MRI have a vital part to play in cases of head and neck trauma, but it is important to know which modality to use under the clinical circumstances, according to speakers at Friday's opening session of the minicourse on major trauma. CT has high sensitivity for mass effects, ventricular configuration, bone injuries, and acute hemorrhage, and it is rapid,… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 9, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

FDA Public Health Advisory: Risk of Burns during MRI Scans from Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings

FDA Public Health Advisory

Risk of Burns during MRI Scans from Transdermal Drug Patches with Metallic Backings

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/transdermalpatch.htm

The FDA has been made aware of information about certain transdermal patches (medicated patches applied to the skin) that contain aluminum or other metals in the backing of the patches. Patches that contain metal can overheat during an MRI scan and cause skin burns in the immediate area of the… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on March 8, 2009 at 6:48pm — No Comments

ACR Radiation Subcommittee Chair and Director of Research Elected to Serve on National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement

Reston, Va. – Beth A. Schueler, Ph.D., chair of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Subcommittee on Relative Radiation Exposure and Dose, Associate Professor Radiology, Medical Physics Division, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn., and ACR Director of Research Mythreyi Bhargavan, Ph.D. have been elected to serve a six-year term on the council of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP).

There are 100 elected members of the Council, who are recognized as leaders in… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on March 8, 2009 at 3:31pm — No Comments

Healthcare consumers receive dose of Image Gently

March 6, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Healthcare consumers receive dose of Image Gently By H.A. Abella The Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging has developed a new set of Image Gently brochures for distribution in physicians' offices to help parents appreciate the risks and benefits of medical imaging and to track their children's imaging histories. The initiative adds a new dimension to the alliance. Since its formation in January 2008, the alliance has reached out to technologists,… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 6, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Report from ECR: Studies suggest new value for digital breast tomosynthesis

March 6, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Report from ECR: Studies suggest new value for digital breast tomosynthesis By John C. Hayes Digital breast tomosynthesis was found to be superior to 2D digital mammography for determining tumor boundaries, a value at a time when more women with breast cancer are choosing breast conservation therapy, according to a study presented Friday. Another study concluded that tomosynthesis can be combined with standard 2D breast imaging to provide a more complete scan.… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 6, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

New payment formula proposes Medicare cuts for high-tech imaging

March 5, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. New payment formula proposes Medicare cuts for high-tech imaging By James Brice A new formula proposed by the influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission for calculating practice expense relative value units could cut technical payments for MRI, CT, and PET from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule by as much as 44%. In its annual report to Congress, MedPAC recommended doubling the assumed utilization rate for calculating practice expense RVUs for the… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 5, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Potential clinical and economic benefits of low-contrast-dose CT (Featured Applied Radiology Article)

For full article,

please visit our publishing partner, Applied Radiology Potential clinical and economic benefits of low-contrast-dose CT angiography - Dr. Teague is an Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis,… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on March 3, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Risks outweigh benefits for low back pain imaging

March 2, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Risks outweigh benefits for low back pain imaging By Greg Freiherr Low back pain is so common a complaint that physicians increasingly are recommending against invasive therapy for any but the most serious cases. This approach has led researchers to back up a step in patient management and crunch the numbers behind the imaging procedures that are done to assess and monitor this condition. It's not good news for radiology. Based on meta-analyses of research… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 2, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Soaring CT-based radiation exposure points at self-referral

March 2, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Soaring CT-based radiation exposure points at self-referral By H.A. Abella The U.S. population underwent seven times as much ionizing radiation exposure from medical imaging in 2006 as it did in 1987, mainly from CT, according to a study released at the 2009 National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements in Bethesda, MD. Overutilization due to self-referral appears to bear some blame. Findings of the NCRP report No. 160, released March 3, serve as… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on March 2, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

White House calls for imaging preauthorization in budget plan

February 27, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. White House calls for imaging preauthorization in budget plan By H.A. Abella The Obama administration has sent to Congress a budget that relies on radiology benefit managers to cut imaging utilization costs, mirroring a recommendation issued last summer by the Government Accountability Office. Just like that recommendation did, the budget proposal drew criticism from imaging proponents. The GAO report released in June 2008 confirmed findings of a 2005… Continue

Added by radRounds Radiology Network on February 27, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Comparative effectiveness research could create imaging technology bottlenecks

February 26, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Comparative effectiveness research could create imaging technology bottlenecks By H.A. Abella The $1.1 billion in the economic stimulus plan committed to comparative effectiveness research may be good for weighing the relative merits of medical technologies, but it could slow their adoption and lead to European-style rationing, according to Obama administration critics. Yet the first postinauguration reactions to President Barack Obama's commitment to a… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on February 26, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Radiologist wins $11.4 million judgment against Kaiser in retaliation case

February 25, 2009 Diagnostic Imaging. Radiologist wins $11.4 million judgment against Kaiser in retaliation case By Donna Domino and James Brice A dispute involving complaints about poor patient care and charges of political retaliation by Kaiser Permanente Medical Group has led to $11.4 million court judgment for a southern California radiologist. The case ended in December 2008 with a decision by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury favoring Dr. Michael Martinucci. It began as internal… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on February 25, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments