A study published in Radiology used MRI to analyze brain atrophy and identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment at risk of progressing to Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that patients with MCI had a one-year risk of conversion to AD ranging from three to 40 percent.
A study found a five-fold increase in pediatric CT exams from 1995 to 2008, with abdominal pain being the leading complaint. The effective dose of radiation for abdominal CT is up to seven times that of head CT, highlighting concerns over cumulative lifetime exposure.
CTC utilization has tripled in recent years, increasing access to colorectal cancer screening, and potentially saving lives through early detection of disease. The study suggests an opportunity for more people to be screened due to CTC's alternative to conventional optical colonoscopy.
The Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation, along with the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, presented inaugural JVIR Editor's Awards for outstanding clinical research paper and laboratory investigation. The awards recognized significant contributions to clinical and pre-clinical research in interventional radio...
The Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation has received a major corporate pledge of $500,000 from Navilyst Medical to support its Discovery Campaign. This funding will be used to support grants, research consensus panels, registries, studies addressing comparative effectiveness, clinical trials, and educational programming.
A new medical device developed using submarine technology detects, diagnoses, and monitors stroke with high accuracy. The device can differentiate between normal brain activity and life-threatening conditions, allowing immediate treatment to begin.
Andrew B. Crummy, M.D., FSIR; Gordon K. McLean, M.D., FSIR, and Peter B. Lauer, CAE, received SIR's Gold Medals for their contributions to interventional radiology and cardiovascular medicine. The award recognizes their advancements in digital subtraction arteriography and other procedures.
A new interventional radiology treatment blocks blood supply to men's enlarged prostate glands, showing comparable clinical results to transurethral resection of the prostate. The minimally invasive treatment has none of the risks associated with TURP, such as sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
The Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation named Dr. Jeanne M. LaBerge the 2011 Dotter Lecturer, honoring her extraordinary contributions to interventional radiology. She is also a leader in innovation, with awards recognizing her research and education efforts.
A minimally invasive procedure, pelvic arterial embolization is a safe and effective treatment for postpartum hemorrhage, preserving the uterus and allowing resumption of menstruation. The study showed an initial clinical success rate of 86 percent, with repeat procedures increasing the overall bleeding control to 97.8 percent.
A small trial found that a proprietary antioxidant mixture taken before CT scans reduced DNA injury by up to 50%. The formula, administered orally, neutralized free radicals caused by X-rays and protected against cell damage.
Researchers develop innovative strategy to target tumor metabolism, block energy production required for malignant cancer growth, delaying tumor volume and spread. The treatment combines ultrasound-guided intra-tumoral delivery of a potent drug with imaging guidance to minimize healthy tissue exposure.
Researchers confirmed that uterine fibroid embolization effectively reduces fibroid-related urinary symptoms, improving quality of life for women. The treatment blocks blood vessels to fibroids, causing them to shrink and symptoms subside.
Researchers used catheter-based renal denervation to treat resistant hypertension in 106 adult patients, achieving significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after six months. The treatment has shown efficacy in lowering blood pressure and may have applicability in managing other diseases such as heart failure and ...
A four-year study confirms that Y-90 radioembolization is a safe and effective treatment for patients with metastatic liver cancer, particularly those who have failed chemotherapy. The procedure preserves patient quality of life and extends life, while also demonstrating anti-tumoral effects.
Researchers have shown that angioplasty to widen internal jugular and azygos veins is safe for multiple sclerosis patients. The treatment improved blood flow and reduced symptoms in 97% of patients with no significant complications.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects millions worldwide, leading to post-thrombotic syndrome and pulmonary embolism. Interventional radiologists have developed clot-busting treatments that can dissolve large blood clots with minimal risk, offering new hope for patients.
Researchers tested first-generation x-ray equipment from 1896 and found significantly higher radiation doses and longer exposure times compared to modern systems. The setup produced surprisingly good images despite image blurring, highlighting the significant health risks faced by early x-ray pioneers.
A new study found that uterine fibroid treatment significantly improved quality of life for women, with non-minimally invasive options such as MRgFUS showing better outcomes. The study surveyed over 197 women who underwent different treatments, including hysterectomy and UAE.
A recent study found that hospital use of computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, is increasing. In 2008, 17% of hospitals offered CTC, up from 13% in 2005, with many citing a desire to provide alternative screening options for frail patients and those with failed optical colonoscopy.
The team built a functioning anti-laser called a coherent perfect absorber (CPA), which absorbs 99.4% of incoming light and could pave the way for novel technologies in optical computing and radiology.
A new article outlines five phases of an imaging procedure's lifecycle, identifying distinct clinical evidence needs for each phase. The roadmap aims to foster certainty for manufacturers and stakeholders in navigating the concept-to-adoption pathway.
A paper on resident duty hour limits from Rhode Island Hospital has been recognized as the best education paper of 2010 by the Journal of the American College of Radiology. The lead author, Martha Mainiero, M.D., explains the history behind current resident duty hour requirements and proposed changes.
A study by radiologists suggests that radiologic case studies can effectively teach physiology to medical students, highlighting four broad physiologic principles: homeostasis, biologic energy use, structure-function relationships, and communication.
Implementing a computerized radiology workflow with customer service representatives leads to faster report delivery, reduced anxiety for patients, and increased productivity for radiologists. The study's findings support the cost-benefits of adding these representatives to alleviate administrative burdens.
A study found that Medicare payments for non-invasive medical imaging are higher to non-radiologists than to radiologists. This disparity has resulted from faster growth in fee-for-service payments to non-radiologists between 1998 and 2006.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins University highlights the problems with reviewing medical images from portable media. The research found three main issue areas: access, importability, and viewing problems. Noncompliance with DICOM standards is also a significant problem, which can delay patient care.
A study found that clinical decision support systems can lower imaging utilization rates for low back pain lumbar MRI, headache head MRI, and sinusitis sinus CT. These systems provide real-time feedback to providers, aiding in the elimination of unnecessary imaging and increasing patient safety and quality.
A new technology uses metabolic imaging to rapidly assess prostate tumor presence and aggressiveness in real-time. The initial results validate preclinical research linking tumor metabolism speed to growth aggressiveness.
A panel of experts addressed safety concerns in medical imaging, highlighting the risks associated with excessive radiation exposure. The Image Wisely initiative aims to educate patients and professionals on the benefits and risks of medical imaging.
A new study reports a significant increase in CT scans performed in emergency departments, with the percentage of ED visits involving CT imaging rising from 2.8% to 13.9% between 1995 and 2007. The study found a remarkable growth rate of 16% per year, driven by increased awareness of cost and radiation concerns.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a method to create gold nanoparticles using cinnamon, replacing toxic chemicals and reducing environmental impact. The process utilizes no electricity and toxic agents, making it a more sustainable approach for healthcare products and pharmaceuticals.
A new study combines digital breast tomosynthesis and diffuse optical tomography to improve breast cancer diagnosis accuracy. The combined imaging system can distinguish between malignant and benign lesions, reducing unnecessary biopsies.
A new study suggests that multidetector computed tomography (CT) can pinpoint the causes of ischemic strokes, potentially reducing treatment delays. The technique detected cardiac sources in 18 of 25 cases and facilitated stroke classification in 83% of patients.
Researchers found that screening for lung cancer using helical CT scanning reduced lung cancer deaths by 20 percent compared to chest X-rays. The study also showed overall deaths due to any factor were 7 percent lower in those screened with low-dose helical CT.
A new study suggests that MRI can accurately predict the duration of a stroke within 90% accuracy, allowing more patients to be treated with clot-busting drug tPA. This could change the way stroke is managed in emergency settings, enabling all patients to receive urgent treatment regardless of symptom onset time.
A study by the American College of Radiology found that nearly all US community facilities performing breast MRI exams meet ACRIN and EUSOBI technical requirements. The Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium data revealed excellent adherence to equipment recommendations, with 94% of scanners using a dedicated breast coil.
A new method for extracting and archiving CT radiation dose information enables providers to track estimated radiation doses, make informed health care decisions, and improve patient safety. The automated extraction pipeline can process both retrospective and prospective studies.
Researchers at Rice University are testing a nanoparticle designed to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer, which is notoriously difficult to treat with a five-year preclinical testing program funded by the National Cancer Institute.
The study found that the use of CT or MRI scans for injury-related conditions increased by 3 times between 1998 and 2007, despite no significant change in hospital admissions. The average length of stay increased by 126 minutes for visits with CT or MRI use.
Computer-aided detection (CAD) software highlighted abnormal areas on mammographic images, used in 74% of screening exams and 50% of diagnostic exams by 2008. The technology is becoming standard practice despite controversy over its efficacy.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic developed a method to measure general technologist productivity, increasing efficiency and savings by $174,000. The study found that measuring productivity can help radiology departments balance competing priorities.
A landmark study found that annual mammography screenings for women aged 40-49 reduces breast cancer deaths by nearly 30%. The results confirm that age 50 as a screening threshold is unfounded, and women should begin getting annual mammograms at age 40.
A new study published in Radiology suggests that radiologists can predict cardiovascular disease using incidental findings from routine CT scans. The study found that aortic calcifications were highly predictive of future cardiovascular events, and developed prediction models to identify patients at high risk.
Using ultrasound and a minimally-invasive procedure, radiologists can identify and remove embedded foreign objects from patients with self-embedding behavior. Early detection and removal are key steps for effective therapy and recovery.
A study suggests that staggered radiologist work shifts can expedite the communication of urgent findings and improve patient care. Radiologists were able to communicate urgent results two hours earlier than control groups, reducing mean elapsed times from image acquisition to result communication.
The Society of Interventional Radiology supports high-quality clinical research to determine the safety and effectiveness of interventional M.S. treatments for vulnerable patients. SIR aims to catalyze the development of needed studies, prioritizing individualized assessments and scientific plausibility.
The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology's August supplement explores the development of thermal ablation techniques and devices for cancer tumor ablation. Key findings include advancements in liquid nitrogen-based cryotherapy, microwave devices, and magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound.
Overutilization of medical imaging services exposes patients to unnecessary radiation and adds to healthcare costs. Radiologists recommend a national collaborative effort to develop evidence-based appropriateness criteria and implement practice guidelines to reduce overutilization.
Two newer breast imaging technologies, BSGI and PEM, have been approved for clinical use despite higher cancer risks. The lifetime risk of radiation-induced cancer from BSGI and PEM exams are significantly higher than digital mammography, with estimated risks ranging from 20 to 30 times higher.
A pay-for-performance program at Massachusetts General Hospital improved radiology report turnaround times, with reports completed in approximately two-thirds the time. The study suggests that such incentives can motivate radiologists to expedite report completion.
The Mount Sinai team has developed a way to visualize coronary artery plaques using multi-color computed tomography (CT), which will lead to better and earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. By harnessing high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and injecting gold particles into mice, researchers were able to see the location of vulnerabl...
A one-day workshop improved dose reduction for various adult MDCT scans, with 46% average dose decrease for brain scans. The program's success depended on access to medical physicists and technologists.
Researchers have developed an advanced search tool called QPID to assist radiologists in extracting useful data from patients' electronic medical records. The system has already been implemented at Massachusetts General Hospital and is expected to have a significant impact on various departments within the hospital and outpatient clinics.
N. Reed Dunnick is being recognized for his dedication to bridging the gap between diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology. As an accomplished leader in the field of radiology, Dr. Dunnick has been involved with numerous professional societies throughout his career.
The Society of Interventional Radiology has issued a global statement defining interventional radiology, emphasizing its importance in medical care and outlining its identity and scope. The statement, supported by 41 international societies, provides a universal framework for IR practices worldwide.
A top-down approach to radiography evaluation reduced unnecessary cervical spine X-rays by 83% at a large academic medical center. The policy was implemented through the medical director's office and resulted in significant cost savings and improved efficiency.
A study found that imaging-guided percutaneous needle biopsies increased by 67% between 1997 and 2008, while open biopsies decreased. The technique offers greater precision and lower complication rates, resulting in a modest growth rate of 3% overall.
Researchers found that meniscal and cruciate ligament lesions increase the risk of developing specific types of knee osteoarthritis. Surgical therapy does not reduce this risk, according to a new study published in Radiology.
Researchers found that risk assessment analysis can identify patients without PE, allowing for reduced radiation exposure and cost savings. The study's results suggest that thromboembolic risk factor assessment can be an effective method to determine when to perform CT angiography for PE.