Researchers may use epigenetics to assess potential harm from CT scans and other low-dose radiation. The study's author argues that future trends in diseases could be linked to current CT usage.
A study published in Radiology found that computed tomographic colonography (CTC), or virtual colonoscopy, is a safe and effective screening tool for older adults. The advanced neoplastic prevalence was 7.6 percent, with no significant difference in accuracy compared to younger patients.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that a simple educational intervention and routing patients to V/Q scanning or CTPA based on chest X-ray results significantly reduced CT scan usage and radiation exposure. The medical center saw a 20% reduction in radiation dose from 8.0 mSv to 6.4 mSv.
Researchers found that handheld devices like PDAs and iPod Touch can display medical images accurately, comparable to secondary monitors, with significant benefits for teleconsultation and emergency procedures.
Researchers discovered a noninvasive contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging technique that can aid in the detection of early-stage ovarian cancer when combined with proteomic blood analyses. This method has shown high accuracy and the potential to save lives by detecting disease at an early stage.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that acute adverse reactions from gadolinium-based contrast agents used during MRI are rare, occurring in only 0.16 percent of all administrations. The majority of reactions were mild, while six moderate and two severe reactions were reported.
A new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that digital mammography significantly lowers radiation doses (22%) compared to conventional film mammography. This reduction could be greater for women with larger and denser breasts, leading to improved cancer detection rates.
The Institute of Medicine recommends stricter resident duty hour regulations to reduce fatigue-related errors and ensure patient safety. The new guidelines focus on regular sleep opportunities for residents, rather than reducing maximum weekly work hours.
The new SBI and ACR recommendations suggest that breast cancer screening should begin at age 40, with annual screening recommended for average-risk patients. High-risk patients may start screening as early as age 30. The guidelines aim to reduce mortality rates from breast cancer through earlier detection.
A study published in the journal Cancer found that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) significantly reduced pain from bone metastases in patients. RFA is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that uses heat to kill tumor cells, eliminating the need for strong narcotic pain management.
A study found that ethnic background, body mass index, and heart rate impact the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT scans. Researchers say advances in scanners can improve image quality for more accurate diagnoses.
A study found that ultrasound-guided cortisone injections showed a clinically significant improvement in pain level for 72% of patients with gluteus medius tendinopathy. Patients were satisfied with the results, making this treatment method a promising option for treating severe hip pain.
A study found that emergency physicians and radiologists overwhelmingly prefer CT scans for diagnosing pulmonary embolism, citing its high accuracy and ease of access. However, approaches differ in imaging pregnant patients with radiation concerns.
Researchers suggest progesterone as a viable treatment option for traumatic brain injuries due to its ability to protect damaged cells and reduce swelling. The hormone has been shown to improve behavioral outcomes and protect neurons after injury.
A study published in JACR found that on-call radiology residents can accurately interpret emergency neuroradiology CT scans after hours. The accuracy of image interpretation is crucial for diagnostic radiology, with clinicians relying solely on preliminary interpretations to make treatment decisions.
Computerized provider order entry/decision support systems offer an education-focused method of utilization management, tracking physician performance and comparing scores to peers. This approach has been shown to reduce imaging utilization by 2.75%, 1.2%, and 1.3% for CT, MRI, and ultrasound respectively.
A recent study found that 95% of radiation oncologists utilize advanced imaging modalities like FDG-PET and MRI for target delineation. The most common technologies used were FDG-PET and MRI, with nearly 75% of respondents using one or both.
A simple blood test can help optimize the timing of breast MRI exams in premenopausal women with irregular cycles, reducing non-diagnostic tests and repeat scans. Researchers found that a blood test to determine serum progesterone concentration can aid in optimal timing.
A study published in American Journal of Roentgenology found that chest ultrasound is a viable alternative to chest CT for evaluating pediatric patients with complicated pneumonia. The study suggests using chest radiography and ultrasound as initial evaluations, with CT reserved for cases where ultrasound is technically difficult or di...
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that short-term follow-up is an acceptable alternative to invasive biopsy for women with palpable breast lesions showing benign imaging features. The study included 320 women with 375 masses and showed a low prevalence of breast cancer.
A new medical imaging technique called dynamic MRI has been found to identify pelvic organ prolapse in women with lower urinary tract symptoms. The condition can go undiagnosed due to its lack of symptoms at rest, but becomes apparent when the patient strains.
A new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that combining triple-drug TACE with a liver transplant significantly increased long-term survival rates for patients with unresectable liver cancer. The median survival time for patients who underwent the procedure was over 112 months.
A phase III study found that short-term hormone therapy given prior to and during intermediate dose radiation treatment significantly increases the chance of living longer (51 percent) compared to those who receive radiation alone. The benefit appeared to be greatest for men at medium-risk for disease failure.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology found that hospitals using more in-patient diagnostic imaging exams had significantly lower in-hospital mortality rates without a corresponding increase in costs. The study analyzed data from over 100 hospitals and more than 1 million patient outcomes, suggesting...
Residents can educate Congress, medical community, and public about CTC efficacy and importance of radiologist training. They are urged to support Medicare coverage and become proficient in performing and interpreting CTC during residency.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that CT scans are more effective than standard X-rays in detecting abnormalities in patients with the H1N1 virus. The extent of disease was better characterized on CT scans, making them a superior imaging modality for high-risk patients.
A new scale, the Duke Abdominal Assessment Scale (DAAS), helps clinicians determine disease severity and need for surgery in infants with NEC. The DAAS provides a standardized 10-point radiographic scale that increases with disease severity, enabling earlier detection of patients at risk for developing severe NEC.
The use of external teleradiology services (EOTSs) has slowed in recent years, contradicting predictions of market expansion. Many radiology practices that initially adopted EOTSs have since stopped using them, suggesting a possible decline in their widespread adoption.
A study found that lung scintigraphy is more reliable than CTA for diagnosing and excluding pulmonary embolism in pregnant patients. Lung scintigraphy produces better diagnostic quality images more often than CTA, particularly due to hemodynamic effects of pregnancy.
Researchers have found that severe H1N1 cases are associated with an increased risk of developing acute pulmonary embolism. A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology used CT scans to identify patients at risk, highlighting the importance of monitoring for this serious complication.
Researchers used medical imaging to identify a severe case of H1N1 after a negative nasal swab test. CT scans revealed peripheral ground-glass opacities, which raised suspicion of the virus and were later confirmed as a cause of death. The study suggests that early CT scans may help clinicians recognize cases of severe influenza.
A minimally invasive procedure called CT-guided tube pericardiostomy has been found to be just as effective as surgical drainage in treating pericardial effusion, with a significant cost savings of 89%. This treatment method spares patients from recovery time and reduces the risk associated with invasive surgery.
Researchers developed a modified catheter with side holes and slits to reduce the force of contrast material exiting the end hole. The study found a nine to 30 percent reduction in velocity and a more cloud-like dispersal of contrast material, resulting in improved patient safety.
A large cohort study of 456,930 contrast doses found only 522 cases of adverse effects, most being mild and non-severe. The study suggests that contrast agents are safe to use and essential for diagnosis, with the advent of new agents improving their safety profile.
Researchers explore image-guided interventional radiology procedures as a central role in treating DVT. These techniques aim to eliminate blood clots completely, potentially improving patient outcomes and preventing long-term complications. A national clinical trial is underway to confirm the effectiveness of this approach.
Researchers at Medical College of Wisconsin used prospective electrocardiogram (ECG) gating to significantly reduce patient radiation dose during CT angiography. The study compared retrospective and prospective ECG gating techniques, finding that image quality was equivalent but radiation doses differed substantially.
A new adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique significantly reduces patient radiation doses during CT scans, enabling improved image quality. The study found that ASIR can reduce radiation doses by up to 65% without compromising diagnostic accuracy.
Researchers found that the 'washout' curve type is most predictive of malignancy, with 45.7% of lesions with this pattern being malignant compared to 20% with a plateau and 13.3% with persistent enhancement. The study suggests that kinetic features in breast MRI assessment can help determine whether a lesion needs biopsying.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that CT angiography can identify diseases and injuries beyond the pulmonary arteries in children. Researchers evaluated 89 CTA exams with suspected pulmonary embolism and found alternative diagnoses in 59% of cases, including pneumonia and atelectasis.
A study at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA found that combining digital breast tomosynthesis and full-field digital mammography can decrease recall rates by 30% for cancer-free examinations. This could alleviate patient stress and economic burden on imaging facilities.
A study performed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that MRI can evaluate beta cell mass and detect inflammation of the pancreas in patients with diabetes. This information can aid physicians in developing personalized treatment plans and achieving insulin independence for patients.
A recent study found that digital mammography significantly increases breast cancer detection rates, outperforming film-screen technology. The switch led to a notable rise in cancers detected at San Luis Diagnostic Center, averaging 7.9 cancers per 1,000 women imaged.
A study found that many coronary angioplasty procedures in developing countries exceed the known dose reference level, highlighting the need for patient dose estimations and management. The research aims to introduce these concepts to interventional radiologists and cardiologists in these countries.
A new low-dose unenhanced CT scan has been shown to correctly identify patients with appendicitis while delivering 50% less radiation than traditional standard-dose enhanced CT scans. The study used this method on 78 patients and achieved high accuracy rates from two independent radiologists.
A new treatment method, Vesselplasty, has been shown to reduce pain and improve mobility in patients with vertebral compression fractures. The study, which included 29 patients, found significant improvements in pain scores and mobility, with no clinical complications reported.
A study found that cardiac CT workups are more cost-effective than traditional care for low-risk chest pain patients, reducing hospital stays by up to 20 hours and lowering charges by 44%. This innovative approach has the potential to significantly reduce costs in emergency departments.
A recent study has found that gadolinium-based contrast agents alone are not sufficient to cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with kidney problems. Despite high doses, these agents did not trigger NSF, suggesting that other factors may be necessary for the disease to develop.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have discovered a way to lower patient radiation doses during pulmonary CT angiography. By adjusting the peak kilovoltage setting, they were able to achieve superior vascular enhancement while maintaining image quality.
A study found that MDCT with prospective ECG triggering reduces chest radiation dose by 71% compared to retrospective gating, delivering a lower dose of 9mSv. Image quality was also slightly better with prospective triggering.
Researchers have created a new breast biopsy technique using a mechanical arm to guide the needle, resulting in increased success rates and reduced procedure times. The system has shown promise for improving biopsy efficiency and accuracy, especially for radiologists of varying experience levels.