November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 CT summation bolsters RFA's targeting accuracy Merging multiple CT images increases the accuracy of probe repositioning during radiofrequency ablation treatments of various lesions, according to a recent study performed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Author Dr. John M. Gemery, an assistant professor of vascular and interventional radiology at Dartmouth, successfully treated 40 patients using CT summation. The method allows for three or…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 CT proves clinical worth in bowel obstruction cases Two and a half years worth of data suggest that CT is the most accurate, cost-effective imaging modality for diagnosing the causes of large bowel obstruction, according to investigators in the U.K. Principal researcher Dr. Sathi Sukumar, a consultant radiologist at the University Hospital of South Manchester, and colleagues retrospectively reviewed 2400 CT reports on inpatient cases of…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 CR prepares to challenge solid-state digital mammo Price, flexibility advantages could lead to proliferation of systems pending moves for FDA approval By Karen Sandrick Since full-field mammography started going digital eight years ago, systems based on flat-panel arrays have dominated. But computed radiography has begun seeping into that market and, if the FDA allows CR companies to apply for streamlined 510(k) approval of mammography…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Strategies can limit imaging fungibility Bundling, branding, and segmentation and customization will help radiologists By Bruce Reiner, M.D. Dr. Reiner is director of research at the Baltimore VA Medical Center in Maryland. Whether we would like to admit it or not, medical imaging is slowly on its way to becoming a commodity, which has been defined by Wikipedia as "anything for which there is a demand, but which is supplied without qualitative…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Smart probes and biomarkers spot earliest signs of cancer Gene profiles created for individual tumors could help tailor intensity of therapy to their aggressiveness, monitor the treatments’ effectiveness Molecular imaging is rapidly advancing as a biomedical modality that increases the understanding of underlying cellular mechanics and dynamics and adds a new dimension to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. It may be a sensitive and…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Siemens tweaks PET/CT T with hybrid for radiology Emphasis on CT component recasts positron imaging as 'smart contrast,' broadens its appeal By Greg Freiherr Siemens Healthcare wants to move PET/CT into the radiology department. The German multimodality vendor, a pioneer in PET and an innovator in CT technology, plans to accomplish this with a hybrid scanner that integrates off-the-shelf components from these two modalities into a spectrum of…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Siemens' dual- and singlesource CTs reflect history Modern developments rise from foundation of technological advances BY ANDRÉ HARTUNG Mr. Hartung is vice president of CT marketing and sales for Siemens. With patients' well-being in focus and dose reduction as a top priority, Siemens over the past three decades has introduced innovations in the way CT operates and how it is used. In 2005, the company introduced the Somatom Definition…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Case of the Month CLINICAL HISTORY A 38-year-old man with a history of asthma and sinus disease was referred to our pulmonary clinic for chronic productive cough with clear sputum. He denied hemoptysis, fevers, chills, wheezing, and dyspnea. He initially presented with an asthma exacer-bation that required antibiotics and a course of prednisone. CT chest acquired in 2001 demonstrated central bronchiectasis of unknown etiology. He had not returned to the…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Carotid US predicts heart attack, stroke Evaluation of carotid artery plaque density performed on serial ultrasound scans could help identify patients at high risk for a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular events, according to Austrian researchers. Physicians know that the majority of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events occur in patients whose blood vessels are less than 70% occluded. Determining the degree of stenosis is thus…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Carestream unveils wireless x-ray detector retrofit DRX-1 flat panel fits neatly into existing table and wall buckys to upgrade from film to digital Carestream Health may have come up with the ultimate radiography retrofit: a wireless x-ray detector that fits into existing table- and wall-mounted buckys. The new detector, when tied to an acquisition console and image processing software, promises to instantly upgrade a film-based radiography…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Radiology salaries reflect U.S. healthcare imbalance While radiology is the highest paid and most popular specialty, primary care remains the lowest paid and least popular among graduates, according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. University of Georgia professor Dr. Mark H. Ebell compared the 2007 median income for physicians in various specialties and their rate of residency positions filled…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Prior authorization takes command Meet imaging's new decision makers During tens of thousands of patient consultations every day, physicians make bad decisions about ordering diagnostic imaging. They may prescribe brain MRI because it is faster to write an order than to conduct a routine neurological exam. They may call for an abdominal CT without realizing that diagnostic ultrasound is cheaper and equally effective. They may give in to a…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Possibility of tissue heating and harm from loud noises seems unlikely but raises concerns Possibility of tissue heating and harm from loud noises seems unlikely but raises concerns Some scientists are concerned that using MR imaging during pregnancy may harm the fetus, with fears focusing primarily on teratogenic effects and acoustic damage. Several studies, however, show children who were exposed to 1.5T MR in utero do not demonstrate…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Philips pursues reliability plus image, workflow gains By Robert Popilock Mr. Popilock is CT product manager for Philips Healthcare. Achieving accurate, consistent results— at the lowest dose, in the shortest time, when and where they are needed—has become a mandate from CT users and a central theme in the product development strategy at Philips CT. To this end, Philips CT has focused on reliability, image quality, dose efficiency, and…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Optical imaging discovers secret of baby's first words A new study could explain why "papa" and "mama" are often a baby's first words: The human brain may be hard-wired to recognize certain repetition patterns. University of British Columbia postdoctoral fellow Judit Gervain and a team of researchers from Italy and Chile used optical brain imaging techniques to document brain activities of 22 newborns exposed to record-ings of made-up words.…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Online animation preps children for imaging tests An interactive web cartoon titled "Welcome to the Radiology Center" teaches sick children what to expect before undergoing an MR, CT, or chest x-ray study. It also gives them a sense of mastery and adventure while enhancing compliance with the procedures. Developed by the Starlight Children's Foundation in Los Angeles with a grant from the Ronald MacDonald Foundation, the animation was…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Breast imaging shines among ultrasound advances Advances in automation and postprocessing pave way to vastly improved performance, productivity By Greg Freiherr Ultrasound will step into the politically charged environs of women's health and address the vagaries of today's financial challenges at this year's RSNA meeting. New products will promise diagnostic information to help clarify suspicious lesions found on screening mammograms. Workflow…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Vendors polish advanced apps with 3T platforms Breast imaging exemplifies clinical value of new developments, as modality bounces back By Greg Freiherr Mr. Freiherr is business editor of Diagnostic Imaging. MR vendors have been chipping away at new clinical applications for years. They have pointed to 3T as the means to expand routine practice in ways that are not routine, adding computing engines to handle the massive volumes of data that…
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. New staffers come up to speed just in time for RSNA meeting Diagnostic Imaging has welcomed two new staffers in recent weeks. They'll be stepping into the challenging world of the RSNA meeting later this month, participating in our 12th annual webcast of the meeting. Rebekah Moan moves into the position of deputy editor, a post formerly held by Shalmali Pal, who has become news editor for our sister publication, Oncology News International. …
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November 1, 2008 Diagnostic Imaging. Vol. 30 No. 11 Musculoskeletal 3T imaging gains clinical acceptance Improved resolution, efficiency, and other advantages over 1.5T imaging outweigh safety concerns and artifact challenges under 3T High-field MR imaging is rapidly gaining clinical acceptance as a preferred platform. Its impact on imaging of the musculoskeletal system has been dramatic, spurred in part by the increasing availability of 3T systems in clinical and academic settings and by…
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