Diagnostic Imaging's Blog

Study sheds light on contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients

August 8, 2008 Study sheds light on contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients H. A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Researchers have established the safety of nonionic contrast media in adult and pediatric patients, but questions remained regarding the use of low- and iso-osmolar agents, particularly in patients at high risk of developing contrast-induced nephropathy. Now results from a prospective multicenter study done in China… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 8, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

CTA beats MRA, ultrasound for early evaluation of peripheral arterial disease

August 7, 2008 CTA beats MRA, ultrasound for early evaluation of peripheral arterial disease Don Rauf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Multislice CT angiography should be the preferred choice over MR angiography or duplex ultrasound for initial evaluation of patients with suspected peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Rody Ouwendijk of the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, drew this conclusion from a four-hospital study… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 7, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Speed, spatial resolution add clinical detail to CTA

August 6, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Speed, spatial resolution add clinical detail to CTA Dual-energy scanning offers potential to remove bone and arterial calcium, clarifying angiographies Paula Gould -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardiovascular imaging has much to gain from developments in CT. The improved temporal and spatial resolution has already translated into superior image quality. Now the radiology community is waiting to see whether… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 6, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Rapid scanning shows benefits in cardiac CT

August 6, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Rapid scanning shows benefits in cardiac CT Higher image quality boosts radiologist confidence in diagnoses, while lower dose protects patients Paula Gould -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The clinical impact of new technology is often difficult to quantify. In cardiac CT, however, the connection between diagnostic performance and latest generation scanning technology is crystal clear. The most obvious benefit… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 6, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Oncology poised to gain from perfusion studies

August 6, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Oncology poised to gain from perfusion studies Tumor microvessel network indicates effectiveness of anti-antiogenic treatment faster than does lesion size Paula Gould -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stroke is typically the headline application in all discussions of perfusion CT. Now interest in this technique is growing from a very different direction: oncology imaging. The development of anti-angiogenic cancer… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 6, 2008 at 9:00pm — No Comments

MSCT matches cardiac MRI for emergency myocardial infarction assessment

August 6, 2008 MSCT matches cardiac MRI for emergency myocardial infarction assessment H. A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Multislice CT is just as accurate as MRI in assessing myocardial infarct size in an emergency setting, according to a recent study conducted by researchers in France and the U.S. The latest data validate previous findings suggesting delayed-enhancement myocardial CT correlates well with measures of infarction size… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 6, 2008 at 9:00pm — No Comments

CT takes different directions to tackle age-old problems

August 5, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. CT takes different directions to tackle age-old problems Fresh approach to earlier technology brings results as slice wars begin to run their course Paula Gould -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The future of CT used to be easy to predict. So-called slice wars dominated the discussion as vendors wheeled out their latest multidetector machines. CT systems were ranked according to a kind of geometric progression:… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 5, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Coronary CTA proves cost-effective for low-risk acute chest pain patients

August 5, 2008 Coronary CTA proves cost-effective for low-risk acute chest pain patients Marjorie Preston -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have added to the roll of preliminary evidence suggesting that 64-slice coronary CT angiography can serve as a useful adjunct for emergency department patients who present with acute chest pain. Guided by senior researcher Dr. G. Scott Gazelle, director of the MGH… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 5, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Digital mammography struggles with PACS compatibility glitches

August 4, 2008 Digital mammography struggles with PACS compatibility glitches H. A. Abella -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A recent advisory by the FDA urging breast imaging facilities to ensure compatibility between full-field digital mammography systems and PACS exposed an ongoing problem: Interoperability issues persist as some vendors fail to comply with healthcare digital imaging standards. The FDA learned that image quality from a number of… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 4, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Compression artifacts appear significantly higher in thin-section CT images

August 4, 2008 Compression artifacts appear significantly higher in thin-section CT images Douglas Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Compression artifacts on thin sections are greater than on thick sections in JPEG 2000 compressed chest CT images, according to a new study from Korea. Image compression ratios of 5:1 to 10:1 are acceptable thresholds in compressing lung CT studies. What has not been clear until now, however, is whether these… Continue

Added by Diagnostic Imaging on August 4, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

MR brain mapping assesses response to glioma therapy

August 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. MR brain mapping assesses response to glioma therapy Functional diffusion technique shortens time needed to determine treatment efficiency, make adjustments -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first three months after standard radiation therapy for a brain tumor must be hell for patients and their families. The established MacDonald criteria for assessing treatment force them to wait up to 10 weeks for follow-up… Continue