Diagnostic Imaging's Blog

Studies attest to prognostic value of coronary CTA

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Studies attest to prognostic value of coronary CTA By James Brice In response to demands for evidence that cardiac CT will positively affect patient outcomes, researchers presented results at the RSNA conference Wednesday attesting to its value for identifying which intermediate risk patients are most likely to suffer future catastrophic coronary events. Dr. James Earls, medical director of Fairfax Medical Consultants in Virginia, demonstrated in a… Continue

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Strengths of tomosynthesis could hinder its adoption

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Strengths of tomosynthesis could hinder its adoption By Rebekah Moan While radiologists herald breast tomosynthesis as the hope for the future of breast imaging, several barriers hinder its widespread use. Its very ability to detect benign lesions dilutes the value of such detection, according to a keynote speech at the RSNA meeting. Radiologists hope breast tomosynthesis will improve sensitivity in detection of breast cancer by removing overlapping… Continue

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South Carolina radiologist defies ‘Rad Scare’

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. South Carolina radiologist defies ‘Rad Scare’ By H.A. Abella Radiologists should aggressively contest otherwise scientifically sound information on cardiac CT radiation risks that is taken out of context or blown out of proportion, fomenting unreasonable fears of medical imaging among patients. Dr. Joseph Schoepf addressed this issue during a cardiac imaging session Tuesday at the RSNA meeting. Schoepf is an associate professor of radiology at the Medical… Continue

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Single fast MR sequence for knee osteoarthritis captures imagination of MSK rads

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Single fast MR sequence for knee osteoarthritis captures imagination of MSK rads By H.A. Abella A new 3D, fast spin-echo MR sequence at 3T could one day help musculoskeletal radiologists perform a comprehensive evaluation of articular cartilage of the knee in only five minutes, according to researchers from Wisconsin and California. More than 20 million people suffer from osteoarthritis, which is second only to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause… Continue

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Siemens puts new spin on PET/CT with advanced hybrid scanner

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Siemens puts new spin on PET/CT with advanced hybrid scanner By Greg Freiher Siemens Healthcare showcased at RSNA 2008 a PET/CT designed with radiologists in mind. It emphasizes CT performance and casts PET as the "smart contrast" that enhances the dynamic information delivered by CT. Siemens is pitching the CT component of its new Biograph mCT (molecular CT) as the most important part of the scanner and the PET component as delivering complementary… Continue

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Robotic therapy expands recovery window for stroke patients

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Robotic therapy expands recovery window for stroke patients By Kristen Minogue With the help of new robotic training, victims of stroke may be able to extend the narrow six-month window to regain their mobility, according to a recent study presented at the RSNA conference Wednesday. Between 80% and 90% of stroke survivors experience motion problems, according Dr. A. Aria Tzika, director of the NMR Surgical Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital.… Continue

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Report from RSNA: Studies attest to prognostic value of coronary CTA

December 3, 2008 Report from RSNA: Studies attest to prognostic value of coronary CTA By James Brice In response to demands for evidence that cardiac CT will positively affect patient outcomes, researchers presented results at the RSNA conference Wednesday attesting to its value for identifying which intermediate risk patients are most likely to suffer future catastrophic coronary events. Dr. James Earls, medical director of Fairfax Medical Consultants in Virginia, demonstrated in a… Continue

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Report from RSNA: McFarland plots course toward acceptance of CT colonography

December 3, 2008 Report from RSNA: 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 the… Continue

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Report from RSNA: Database mining shows CT scans stable in children, climbing in adults

December 3, 2008 Report from RSNA: Database mining shows CT scans stable in children, climbing in adults By John C. Hayes Researchers using a massive database of radiology reports to identify 10-year trends in scanning practices found mixed results. The good news: CT scans of children increased only slightly. In adults, however, they increased more than 50%, with abdominal and chest scans leading the way. The study was reported Monday in an informatics scientific session that focused heavily on… Continue

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Radiologists identify new self-embedding disorder plaguing teens

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Radiologists identify new self-embedding disorder plaguing teens By Kristen Minogue A new kind of self-mutilation is creeping into the teenage population, one that involves inserting objects into the body, according to radiologist Dr. William E. Shiels, II, who presented the first study of the adolescent phenomenon at the RSNA conference Wednesday. Shiels, the chief of radiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH, calls it "self-embedding… Continue

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Portable CT device shortens request-to-scan times, increases number of stroke patients eligible for tPA treatment

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Portable CT device shortens request-to-scan times, increases number of stroke patients eligible for tPA treatment By David Ma The availability of a portable CT scanner in an emergency room significantly increases the number of patients who are eligible for life-saving treatment. In a study conducted at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA, stroke triage was monitored to determine the effect that rapid access to CT scans would have on treatment of… Continue

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Philips combines SPECT camera with flat-panel x-ray

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Philips combines SPECT camera with flat-panel x-ray By Greg Freiherr Philips Healthcare showcased at RSNA 2008 a hybrid SPECT/CT that incorporates a flat-panel x-ray system in place of a standard multislice CT. The FDA-cleared scanner, BrightView XCT, which debuted at the Society of Nuclear Medicine meeting in New Orleans, is built around the BrightView SPECT that Philips released commercially last year. The novel combination is attuned specifically to… Continue

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Patient photos personalize imaging exams, affect radiologists’ approach to reading

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Patient photos personalize imaging exams, affect radiologists’ approach to reading By David Ma Including a patient's photo with imaging exam results produces a psychological boost that leads radiologists to take a more personal, emphatic approach to interpretation, according an Israeli study presented Tuesday at the 2008 RSNA meeting. "Faces are special," said Dr. Yehonatan N. Turner, M.D., the lead author and a radiology resident at Shaare Zedek Medical… Continue

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New mammography technique avoids limitations of older technology

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. New mammography technique avoids limitations of older technology By David Ma Looking for breast cancers with x-ray mammograms can be like searching for a snowball in a snowstorm. A new imaging technique, positron emission mammography (PEM), circumvents many of the limitations of the imaging techniques most commonly used to screen for breast cancer. "This tool is very sensitive, specific, and it gives us great clarity and confidence in diagnosing new… Continue

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Imaging utilization rises where radiology presence drops

December 3, 2008 DiagnosticImaging.com. Imaging utilization rises where radiology presence drops By John C. Hayes Rates of diagnostic imaging utilization varied by more than 56% across the 10 Medicare regions of the U.S., according to a study presented Wednesday. The regions with the highest utilization had the lowest percentage of imaging services provided by radiologists. The study looked at trends in noninvasive imaging services provided to Medicare patients using the Medicare Part B… Continue