Diagnostic Imaging's Blog

Call Coverage: 6 Strategies for Thriving in Challenging Times

December 12, 2008 Call Coverage: 6 Strategies for Thriving in Challenging Times M. M. Robb is a science writer who specializes in radiology. He resides in suburban Washington, D.C. and can be reached via editor@physicianspractice.com. Mark Glass-Royal, a radiologist in suburban Washington, D.C., and Jerry Fosselman, COO of a 63-physician imaging practice in Sacramento, Calif., work on opposite coasts, but agree on one point: Radiology has never faced more challenging times. At issue isn't just… Continue

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Radiologists, gastroenterologists disagree about need to remove small colon polyps

December 11, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Radiologists, gastroenterologists disagree about need to remove small colon polyps By H.A. Abella Recommendations from an Oregon Health and Science Center study have clashed with the findings from a University of Wisconsin trial on the value of polypectomy for small polyps identified during CT colonography. The Oregon study calls for immediate resection while the Wisconsin trial concludes that removal would be costly, risky, and, by definition, unnecessary.… Continue

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Swedish study finds higher renal failure rate for Visipaque than Hexabrix

December 10, 2008 Swedish study finds higher renal failure rate for Visipaque than Hexabrix By James Brice With the introduction of iso-osmolar contrast media, radiologists looked forward to the day when severe adverse reactions to x-ray contrast would be eliminated. That day has yet to come, at least as far as the long-term effects of such agents, according to a large retrospective Swedish study. That research identified a significantly higher rate of renal failure among patients administered… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on December 10, 2008 at 7:30pm — No Comments

PET’s impact on intended management shows consistency across indications

December 8, 2008 PET’s impact on intended management shows consistency across indications By H.A. Abella Results from PET scans can influence the management of cancer patients regardless of their cancer type or the reason for ordering the exam, according to the latest update from the National Oncologic PET Registry. Preliminary results published by the NOPR in March in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicated that FDG-PET led referring physicians to alter their intended clinical management… Continue

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Radiation dose awareness leads to more pediatric referrals for ultrasound and MRI

December 7, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Radiation dose awareness leads to more pediatric referrals for ultrasound and MRI By H.A. Abella Educational efforts to raise awareness about the associated risks of CT-based radiation exposure and the need to keep children from receiving unnecessary scans seem to be achieving traction among healthcare providers, according to a study by Ohio researchers. Their findings suggest that such increased awareness may make referring physicians less likely to… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on December 7, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Industry attendance at the 2008 RSNA plunges

December 7, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Industry attendance at the 2008 RSNA plunges By James Brice A big drop in exhibitor attendance led to an overall 5% decline in the number of people who attended the 2008 RSNA meeting. Audited totals released by the Radiological Society of North America after the end of sessions on Fri., Dec. 5, indicate that 58,795 people attended the week-long scientific assembly and meeting. …

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Added by Diagnostic Imaging on December 7, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Siemens dedicates MR scanner to breast

December 5, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Siemens dedicates MR scanner to breast By Greg Freiherr Siemens underscored its commitment to women’s health with its introduction at RSNA 2008 of Espree Pink, a 1.5T scanner dedicated to breast imaging. The scanner, equipped with the company’s Tim (Total imaging matrix), combines the 70-cm wide-bore design of its Espree with the Sentinelle Vanguard coil. This coil supports breast imaging and biopsy. Built into the system is a comprehensive portfolio of… Continue

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Radiologists lose angioplasty, stent procedure volume to cardiologists and surgeons

December 5, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Radiologists lose angioplasty, stent procedure volume to cardiologists and surgeons By Donna Domino As percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement replaces bypass surgery in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease, cardiologists and surgeons now are performing far more of the procedures than radiologists, according to research presented Thursday at the RSNA meeting. A study using Medicare databases for 1996 through 2006 showed that the… Continue

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Lesion location, complexity define pain after RFA of osteoid osteomas

December 5, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Lesion location, complexity define pain after RFA of osteoid osteomas By H.A. Abella A lesion's type and location, and the number of muscles that a needle has to pierce to reach it, rather than the number of procedures, determine the level and duration of pain after radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas, according to Mayo researchers. RFA of osteoid osteomas, introduced by Dr. Daniel Rosenthal at Harvard University in 1992, has become the standard… Continue

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Fujifilm unveils flat-panel DR at RSNA 2008

December 5, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Fujifilm unveils flat-panel DR at RSNA 2008 By Greg Freiherr Breaking with its past dependence on phosphor-based computed radiography plates, Fujifilm featured a flat-panel digital radiography system at the RSNA 2008 meeting. The AcSelerate system, named for the amorphous selenium component of its new flat panel, features an automated table and upright system featuring lightweight components that are easier to position and operate than traditional… Continue

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Breast ultrasound scanner debuts in Siemens RSNA booth

December 5, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Breast ultrasound scanner debuts in Siemens RSNA booth By Greg Freiherr Siemens Healthcare unveiled a breast ultrasound system at RSNA 2008 whose automated exams could help women’s health practitioners achieve the potential of ultrasound as a complement to mammography. The Acuson S2000 Automated Breast Volume Scanner, for which FDA clearance is pending, uses a block-like transducer mounted on the end of an articulated arm. The transducer mechanically… Continue

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McFarland plots course toward acceptance of CT colonography

December 4, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. McFarland plots course toward acceptance of CT colonography By James Brice In the aftermath of Medicare's less than encouraging evaluation of virtual CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening, Dr. Elizabeth McFarland used the RSNA's Annual Oration in Diagnostic Radiology to identify past achievements and ongoing initiatives she believes will lead to the modality's acceptance. CT colonography was given a mixed reception at a Nov. 19 hearing before… Continue