A new study found that the number of radiologists in practice rose only 12% between 2010 and 2022, despite a 33% growth in radiology residency positions. The radiologist pipeline expanded more slowly than medicine as a whole, highlighting an ongoing workforce strain.
A new study suggests venture capital is playing a significant role in driving innovation in radiology, particularly in medical devices and artificial intelligence. The study found $11.4 billion was invested across 646 companies between 2000-2023, with funding peaking in 2021.
Research found DBT availability at breast imaging facilities is similar between high- and low-deprivation areas, but facilities in low-deprivation areas offer more weekend appointments, which may impact access for traditionally underserved populations.
A new JACR study suggests radiology departments should optimize use of linens and disposable supplies to reduce environmental impact and costs. The study found that linens (35%) and other single-use supplies (34%) accounted for most of ultrasound's greenhouse gas emissions.
Artificial intelligence can complement human expertise to improve radiology workflows and patient care. The JACR Focus Issue on AI in Workflow Optimization explores the integration of AI technology to enhance efficiency and deliver better care.
A new JACR focus issue explores alternative approaches to resident education, radiology residency applications, and investing in pre-clinical medical education. The study aims to spark meaningful dialogue around how radiology education is valued, supported, and delivered amidst economic challenges.
Advanced medical imaging increases diagnostic confidence and facilitates rapid diagnoses, leading to better clinical decisions. Primary care physicians perceive imaging as crucial for quality patient care, particularly for sicker patients.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) disputes systemic patient anxiety concerns related to inconclusive cancer screening test results from computed tomography (CT) lung cancer exams. A study by Gareen et al suggests that anxiety effects are minimal, and the lifesaving benefits outweigh any downsides.
A quality improvement initiative at an American College of Radiology institution led to a significant reduction in unnecessary follow-up imaging for adnexal cystic lesions. The initiative improved sonographic characterization and imaging triage, increasing confidence in characterizing certain lesions as physiologic or benign.
A special issue of JACR explores improving CT exam safety through radiation dose optimization, considering factors like patient size and communication with pediatric patients. The issue includes articles discussing CT protocol review, decision support tools, and educational simulations to enhance optimization techniques.
A clinical trial found that adding bevacizumab to standard glioblastoma treatment did not increase overall survival, but did delay the risk of toxicity. The study also showed a decline in neurocognitive function and quality of life for patients receiving bevacizumab.
Studies highlight the impact of clinical education on imaging examinations, including increased effectiveness and improved guideline adherence. Trends in diagnostic CT scans also reveal differential changes by age group and body region.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology reveals that there is minimal change in regional variation of imaging utilization between 2007 and 2011. In contrast, regional variation in imaging costs and other major health services categories remains significant.
New data from the NLST suggests that low-dose CT screening for lung cancer may overdiagnose up to 22% of non-small cell lung cancers. However, the rate is significantly lower than projected for other cancer screenings, supporting the implementation of lung cancer screening programs.
A special issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology addresses imaging-based screening and radiology's role in preventive medicine. The issue explores breast density legislation, digital breast tomosynthesis, lung cancer screening, and CT colonography reimbursement, highlighting both benefits and controversies.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that non-radiologists are increasingly performing ultrasound-guided invasive procedures. The study highlights the growing role of non-radiologists in these procedures, with significant increases noted between 2004 and 2010.
New diagnostic thresholds published in the New England Journal of Medicine aim to balance ultrasound use and ensure accuracy in diagnosing viable pregnancies. The guidelines suggest raising gestational sac size limits and improving blood test reliability to prevent misdiagnosis.
The American College of Radiology has developed a safety checklist for pediatric digital radiography, aiming to standardize work processes and reduce reliance on memory. The checklist is designed to decrease the chance of medical errors and improve patient care in pediatric radiography.
A new analysis confirms the importance of regular mammography screening in reducing breast cancer deaths, especially among younger women. The study found that 71% of confirmed breast cancer deaths occurred in the 20% of patients who did not receive annual mammograms.
Radiology residents primarily use iPads as educational tools, with limited impact on daily clinical duties. Only 12% used iPads to sign dictated reports, and most had not used them for viewing radiologic examinations.
A clinical trial found that adding bevacizumab to standard treatment for glioblastoma did not improve overall survival or progression-free survival. However, patients in the bevacizumab arm experienced a greater decline in cognitive function and symptom burden compared to those on placebo.
A randomized clinical trial found that higher-dose radiotherapy did not improve overall survival in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. The study suggested that a standard dose of 60Gy is superior to 74Gy, and that adaptive radiotherapy may be more effective.
A new study confirms low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) detects more early-stage lung cancers than chest X-ray (CXR), supporting a 20% reduction in mortality. Compliant imaging facilities performed 98.5% of studies within protocol specifications.
A new study by the American College of Radiology found that any potential work efficiencies gained when different providers interpret different medical imaging scans on the same patient are minimal and vary by procedure. The study suggests that Medicare's estimates of potential work savings were greatly exaggerated, with a maximum redu...
A new radiation therapy method using volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been shown to significantly reduce prostate cancer treatment time by approximately 14%. The study found that VMAT patients had shorter average room times, with some patients experiencing similar treatment times as those using gold-marker tracking.
The majority of primary care physicians prefer delivering radiology test results to patients themselves, feeling medico-legally obligated by recommendations within reports. This preference is influenced by the wording and location of recommendations, highlighting the need for improvements in radiology reporting practices.
A study found that including CTC as a HEDIS-compliant colorectal cancer screening test can increase overall screening rates. The analysis used demographic and healthcare utilization data to demonstrate the potential impact of adding CTC as a qualifying test for HEDIS CRC screening metrics.
A new study shows that fewer than one-in-five healthcare providers meet Medicare PQRS requirements. Radiologists are nearly twice as likely to qualify for bonuses, but face penalties if they don't improve their documentation and reporting. The study found that radiologists collectively may face penalties totaling over $100M in 2016.
A new report by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute suggests that declining medical imaging use may be driving up hospital stays and medical costs in the US. This trend could have negative consequences on patient safety and access to care if not addressed through policy changes.
A special issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology explores radiology's role in health care reform, including utilization management, value-based payment systems, and patient-centered outcomes. The issue highlights the importance of radiologists being involved in directing overall health policy and budget discussions.
Guidelines provide three categories for initial patient evaluation and order sets for follow-up visits, aiming to reduce inappropriate imaging utilization, steroid and narcotic use, and invasive procedures. The approach is based on the best available evidence to improve patient care.
A study found that using regional PACS networks for inter-hospital image transfer reduces repeat imaging rates, associated costs, and radiation exposure. The results showed a lower repeat rate of 17%, resulting in lower charges and less radiation exposure.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that non-invasive diagnostic imaging costs to Medicare Part B dropped significantly between 2006 and 2010. The decline was attributed to reimbursement cuts and increased education on scan utilization.
A recent study in Pakistan found limited awareness of breast cancer among most women, with many unaware of self-breast exams and clinical breast exams. However, willingness to address health issues was high, and the majority of general practitioners understood major risk factors and importance of early detection.
A study suggests that electronic medical records (EMRs) significantly improve physician compliance with reviewing portal images, leading to more accurate radiation treatment and higher quality care. By leveraging EMRs, hospitals can reduce errors and optimize patient care.
A multi-institutional survey study found that 74% of radiology residents own smartphones and 37% own tablet devices, with 81% believing they would spend more time learning if provided with a tablet device. Tablet technology has the potential to enhance radiology education by providing more study time.
A study found that ED patients undergoing CT of the abdomen and pelvis are clinically complex, with 93.8% classified as higher complexity. The study suggests that advanced imaging services in the ED setting serve valuable roles, such as facilitating patient triage and reducing hospital lengths of stay.
The study found that dedicated pediatric imaging departments significantly reduce radiation doses in pediatric CT scans, with compliance rates improving and patient doses decreasing. The use of specialized technologists and protocols tailored to child size and organ system scanned contribute to these benefits.
The University of Colorado Department of Radiology has developed a smartcard to communicate effective doses and radiation risks of common adult radiologic exams to referring physicians and patients. The Adult Dose-Risk Smartcard simplifies facts on radiation dose and risk for informed decision-making about medical imaging procedures.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that multi-detector CT scans pose a lower risk of developing secondary cancers among older adults. The researchers analyzed data from Medicare claims spanning eight years and estimated that only 0.03-0.04 percent of the population would develop radiation...
Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) scans identified nearly three times as many patients with coronary artery disease as standard methods. Low- to intermediate-risk patients who underwent CCTA were more than twice as likely to be discharged and had significantly shorter hospital stays.
A recent study suggests that US radiation residents' curricula for business practice and health care policy are in need of improvement, with most programs offering variable topics and educational time. The study's findings indicate that current curricula may be suboptimal, highlighting the need for further commitment and innovation.
A medical school in Ireland has successfully implemented a radiation protection program for undergraduate medical students, improving their knowledge of radiation protection. The program was designed as an e-learning module and resulted in significant improvements in students' post-module radiation protection knowledge.
Virtual colonoscopies are comparably effective to standard colonoscopy in detecting colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps. The Colon Cancer Alliance and ACR urge Medicare to cover seniors for screening CT colonography, which is endorsed by the American Cancer Society.
A recent analysis of data from the National CT Colonography Trial confirms the efficacy of CT colonography as a front-line colorectal cancer screening tool for seniors. The study found that CT colonography accurately detects polyps and precancerous lesions in people aged 65 and older, comparable to standard colonoscopy.
A recent study suggests that surgical breast biopsies are not overused, with the actual rate falling between 2% and 18%. The study analyzed Medicare data from 2004 to 2009 and found a true surgical breast biopsy figure of around 11%. This finding challenges earlier reports that suggested surgery was used for 30% of breast biopsies.
A large hospital implemented a CPOE system with clinical decision support for radiology, significantly increasing meaningful use and adoption rates. The study observed a decrease in low-utility imaging studies by up to 57%.
A recent study found that musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound volume increased significantly among non-radiologists, particularly podiatrists, from 2000 to 2009. The study's findings raise concerns about self-referral and the potential for increased healthcare costs.
A chromosomal abnormality, specifically the absence of chromosomes 1p and 19q, has definitive prognostic value for managing treatment of adult patients with pure and mixed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. Treatment with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed near-doubling of median survival time compared to radiation therapy ...
A study found that uninsured patients receiving imaging services in a hospital setting received the same quantity and value as insured patients. Despite this, uninsured individuals were less likely to undergo interventional procedures but more likely to receive computed tomography studies.