A new ASIR technique can reduce the radiation dose associated with abdominal CT scans by 23-66 percent. The study found that patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 experienced an average dose reduction of 66 percent.
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.
Researchers found that virtual colonoscopies (CTC) doubles the yield of identifying significant early extracolonic lesions, resulting in lives saved. CTC also increases the odds of identifying high-risk lesions by 78 percent.
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.
A recent study found that a significant number of patients are willing to undergo computed tomography colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer screening, but are hesitant to pay out-of-pocket fees. The study suggests that CTC availability could improve screening rates if insurance coverage were more widely available.
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.
Gastric band slippage, a complication of adjustable gastric banding surgery, can be diagnosed using X-rays. The 'O' sign, where the band appears as an O-shaped configuration instead of its usual rectangular shape, is a key indicator.
A large medical center implemented an imaging algorithm to reduce cumulative radiation exposure and CT scans for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages. The study showed a 25.6% decrease in mean number of CT examinations per patient and a 12.1% overall reduction in cumulative radiation exposure.
A new ASIR technique reduces CT colonography radiation dose by 50% without compromising image quality, improving patient safety. The study found no significant differences in image quality between standard and low-dose images using ASIR.
The American College of Radiology's Task Force on Relationships between Radiology Groups and Hospitals proposes steps to improve relationships between radiologists and healthcare systems. Radiologists must re-dedicate themselves to providing value-added services to patients and referring physicians.
A study published by the American College of Radiology suggests that standard X-rays are less effective than CT scans in detecting pelvic fractures. The research found that 48% of pelvic injuries were missed using standard X-rays alone, and that CT scans provide more complete evaluation of suspected pelvic injuries.
Conventional MRI may detect a large percentage of hip labral tears, suggesting it as an acceptable alternative to MR arthrography. However, further study is needed to confirm its effectiveness in evaluating nonspecific hip pain.
Ultrasound imaging is a highly effective and non-invasive test for characterizing peroneal nerve damage in patients with foot drop. High-resolution ultrasound was found to be more effective than EMG and MRI for evaluating common causes of foot drop, making it the recommended first-line imaging choice.
A study found that ultrasound can effectively diagnose muscle tears in soccer players during games, allowing for immediate play cessation. This non-invasive imaging modality helps prevent further injuries by detecting partial or complete muscle tears on-site.
A new CT technique eliminates the need for X-rays in trauma patients with possible spinal fractures, lowering cost and radiation exposure. The study found that 19% of patients with reformatted CT data also had unnecessary X-rays, resulting in a significant additional radiation dose and cost.
A study found that preoperative MRI can help surgeons identify the neurovascular bundle and spare it during RALP, leading to better erectile function outcomes. The technique has improved surgical decision-making without compromising oncological results.
A new technique called z-axis modulation can significantly reduce the radiation dose associated with unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of the head. By applying this simple method, radiologists can achieve a 35% reduction in patient dose while maintaining optimal image quality and noise levels.
A recent study presented at the ARRS Annual Meeting found that whole body MRI is highly accurate in detecting breast cancer metastases. The test identified bone metastases in 47 out of 99 patients with known breast cancer, while a chest X-ray only detected them in 24 patients.
Fluoroscopic (X-ray) guided steroid injections offer a safe and effective alternative to conventional treatment of hamstring tendonitis. The study found that 11 out of 16 patients showed major improvement after treatment, with no immediate or long-term complications reported.
A study presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting found that FDG-PET/CT accurately confirmed a suspected colorectal cancer recurrence in 40 out of 71 patients. This early detection enables improved treatment planning and targeted patient care for those with recurrent colorectal cancer.
A study found that having a pathologist on-site during ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsies decreased the inadequacy rate from 13.5% to 5%. This improvement could reduce repeat biopsy rates by up to 60%, making more efficient use of resources. The study recommends using on-site pathology for large numbers of thyroid biopsies.
A study suggests that preoperative breast MRI can reduce local breast cancer recurrences at follow-up, particularly in young patients with dense breast tissue. The study found that patients who received a contrast-enhanced MRI prior to surgery had significantly fewer local recurrence cases.
A study suggests that breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect breast lesions missed on mammography and ultrasound, influencing surgical management choices. Breast MRI positively impacts patient management decisions, potentially reducing the need for re-intervention by accurately assessing tumor extent.
A study of 28 radiologists found a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, including lower back pain, wrist pain, and headaches, due to inadequate workstation ergonomics. The findings highlight the importance of researching workstation design to minimize long-term implications for radiologists.
A study presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting found that adaptive image filters can significantly improve image quality while lowering patient radiation doses for chest and abdominal CT scans. The filters improved image clarity, reducing radiation doses by up to 40 mAs for chest scans and up to 100 mAs for abdominal scans.
A study found that younger patients, aged 31 and under, have a higher estimated radiation risk associated with abdominal CT scans. The risk is double that of older patients, highlighting the need for clinicians to carefully consider imaging orders based on patient age.
Researchers have developed a computer-based system called Valkyrie that can automatically track patient-specific radiation dose exposure from CT scans. The system uses patient size and weight to provide accurate radiation dose information.
A new study suggests that indeterminate breast lesions found in high-risk patients should be evaluated more aggressively to exclude a possible malignancy. The research found that 22% of these lesions were proven positive for cancer on follow-up and subsequent biopsy, highlighting the need for earlier evaluation.
A new automated 3-D mapping and labeling system has been developed to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and speed of routine freehand ultrasound exams. The system reduces scanning time by up to 16 seconds per target and accurately measures mass locations in relation to the nipple.
By adjusting the radiation dose based on a child's weight, researchers were able to significantly lower the radiation dose associated with pediatric chest CT scans. The study found that radiation doses could be reduced by up to 73% for children weighing less than 33 pounds.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that the Framingham risk assessment tool has limited sensitivity in detecting coronary artery disease. In fact, simple observation of coronary calcium presence using CT scans was more effective in identifying patients with substantial atherosclerosis.
Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a cost-effective alternative to invasive cardiac catheterization, reducing costs by $789 per patient and radiation exposure by minimal amounts. The study suggests that CCTA can effectively triage patients with low CAD risk, potentially eliminating the need for cardiac catheterization.
A study by Annette J. Johnson, MD, MS, found that direct patient access to imaging test results could increase anxiety and workload for physicians. Radiologists and referring physicians agreed on potential benefits, but also raised concerns about patients' ability to understand written reports and the impact on physician time.
Advanced imaging techniques like CT scans and MRI can shorten hospital stays and decrease costs. Studies found that early imaging on the day before or day of admission resulted in a one-day shorter length of stay for certain patients.
A new study by the American College of Radiology found that X-rays are often inconclusive in detecting hip and pelvic fractures. The study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm or rule out fractures, revealing a significant number of missed diagnoses.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology suggests that women with radial scars should undergo surgical excision to rule out an underlying malignancy. The study found that up to 40% of radial scars are associated with cancer, and that mammographic and sonographic appearances are not reliable indicators of malign...
A study published in American Journal of Roentgenology reveals dual-energy CT as an effective diagnostic tool for gout. The technique offers high accuracy in detecting vessels and bones, enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment.
The study found significant variations in pulmonary embolism diagnosis imaging tests used by physicians, depending on their specialty and geographic location. This suggests that some imaging may be unnecessary or inappropriate.
A modified technique for ECG-triggered coronary CTA significantly reduces the radiation dose delivered to patients, with no impact on image quality or interpretability. The study, published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, involved 886 patients and found a 45% increase in radiation dose with increased padding duration.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found significant geographic variation in noninvasive diagnostic imaging utilization rates among Medicare beneficiaries. The study revealed that Atlanta had the highest utilization rate, while Seattle had the lowest, with a difference of over 50% between the two regions.
A phase II study found that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) effectively eliminated targeted tumors in patients with early-stage inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment resulted in a 97.6% primary tumor control rate at 3 years, outperforming conventional radiotherapy.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that PET scanner ownership by non-radiologists has significantly increased, outpacing radiologist-owned scans. This trend contributes to unnecessary imaging utilization and increased costs.
A large academic medical center found that a significant percentage of outpatient referrals for CT and MRI studies from primary care physicians were inappropriate. The study, performed at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA, included medical records from 459 elective outpatient CT and MR examinations.
A recent study found that embedding clinical images in radiology reports enhances communication between radiologists and referring physicians, leading to improved patient care. The study, which included 35 cases of abdominal CT scans, showed that attaching relevant images to the report helped make management decisions more confident an...
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that MRI accurately identified 28 malignant and 7 benign lesions, enabling accurate estimation of local disease extent in patients with malignant tumors. This noninvasive diagnostic tool may improve patient care by reducing unnecessary surgical procedures.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that the risk of major bleeding after image-guided percutaneous biopsies is low, even among patients taking aspirin. The study reviewed 15,181 biopsies performed over six years and found only 70 hemorrhages (0.5%) within three months of biopsy.
Researchers used contrast-enhanced MRI to differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, finding a significant difference in perfusion after 15 minutes. The study suggests that contrast-enhanced MRI could play a key role in targeted therapies for each condition.
The study found that videoconferencing enabled successful completion of education programs for radiology trainees in remote locations, removing the need for travel and increasing participation rates. Satisfaction with course content and delivery was high among participants.
The National Institutes of Health is implementing a system to track radiation dose exposure from medical imaging tests, aiming to determine potential cancer risks. The electronic medical record will store and retrieve reports on radiation doses, allowing for the collection of data necessary to assess cancer risk.