The American College of Radiology has issued risk mitigation guidance to help healthcare institutions conserve contrast media supplies amid a global shortage. Two healthcare systems, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina, have implemented strategies that reduced their contrast use by at least 50%.
SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 23, 2022
A study published in JAMA Oncology found significant disparities in breast biopsy delays among non-white women, with Black women experiencing the longest delays. Structural racism within healthcare facilities and screening site-specific factors contribute to these disparities.
A prospective study compared CEM and MRI for NAT response assessment in patients with breast cancer. CEM yielded comparable assessments of lesion size and RECIST categories as MRI, but with lower sensitivity for pathologic complete response. Delayed CEM acquisition detected residual ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
The article provides guidance on alternative imaging methods for interventional radiology procedures, including the use of intravascular ultrasound, alternative contrast agents such as gadolinium and carbon dioxide, and case prioritization strategies to optimize available supplies. The authors recommend creating a priority matrix and h...
SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 22, 2022
A new study led by UCSF found that routine screening for and removal of precancerous anal lesions can significantly reduce the risk of anal cancer. The study, known as ANCHOR Study, showed a 57% reduction in anal cancer among people with HIV who underwent treatment for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL).
A new study published in JAMA found that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) may reduce the chance of an advanced cancer diagnosis for women with the densest breasts and highest risk, but not all women. DBT had additional advantages for women with specific risk profiles, including a higher rate of detection of small invasive breast canc...
A prospective randomized study found that an AI support platform reduced chest CT interpretation times by 22.1%, saving approximately one hour per day for radiologists. The platform provided automated analysis of cardiac, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal findings, resulting in shorter interpretation times.
A small study found that an experimental hydrogel injection into spinal discs significantly reduced chronic low back pain and improved physical function. The gel, known as Hydrafil, is easy to administer with no open surgery required, offering a promising treatment for degenerative disc disease.
Researchers at Emory University treated eight patients with chronic nerve pain using a technique called interventional cryoneurolysis, which uses imaging guidance to freeze damaged nerves and promote regeneration. The study found significant improvements in pain symptoms, with six patients experiencing dramatic reductions in pain scores.
Researchers found that nearly 80% of women with blocked fallopian tubes could conceive naturally after a simple diagnostic procedure and treatment, called selective salpingography and fallopian tube recanalization. The study suggests that this treatment could provide clarity on infertility and offer a life-changing option for many women.
A cross-sectional study found a strong association between ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF) and MRI proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), providing high sensitivity for detecting hepatic steatosis. The study showed that UDFF had an AUC of 0.90 for identifying PDFF ≥5.5%.
A single-center study found lower pneumonia frequency and severity in fully vaccinated patients compared to unvaccinated patients. The study included 467 patients who underwent chest CT during hospitalization for symptomatic COVID-19, with significant reductions in pneumonia frequency and severity observed in those fully vaccinated.
Adding diffusion-weighted MRI to conventional MRI enhances the differentiation of locally recurrent tumor and post-surgical fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection. The study found higher sensitivity with DWI, facilitating earlier detection of recurrences.
A study suggests that lung ultrasounds performed by primary care physicians can accurately diagnose community-acquired pneumonia with high specificity. This could allow for direct antibiotic prescribing, saving time and money for patients and reducing X-ray radiation.
A new computer-aided diagnostic tool, Deep-Lung Parenchyma-Enhancing (DLPE), uses artificial intelligence to reveal signs of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID long-haulers, helping to explain respiratory symptoms and improve disease management.
A study published in AJR found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-induced axillary lymphadenopathy resolves after a mean of 97 days. Longer resolution times were observed with Moderna vaccination, receipt of second doses, and thicker cortical thickness at presentation.
The QUSTom project aims to develop a new medical imaging modality using ultrasound and supercomputing, improving breast cancer diagnosis and potentially replacing mammograms. The technology will offer superior image quality and better tumor monitoring, while being completely safe for patients.
Researchers identified peaks in assault-related injury visits to emergency departments, with Saturday and Sunday being the most common days of the week. The study found higher rates of injuries during spring and winter months, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies and resource planning.
The American Journal of Roentgenology has published best practices for managing an iodinated contrast media (ICM) shortage in radiology practices. To mitigate the shortage, practice leaders should prioritize examination findings and reduce overall ICM usage.
The ARRS annual meeting provides an updated primer on imaging ballistic injuries, which helps guide radiologists' interpretation. This includes understanding mechanisms of ballistic trauma and injury patterns to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
The study compared lung perfusion scans during COVID-19 (April 2020 to July 2021) to pre-COVID V/Q scans (December 2018 to March 2020) in a large tertiary care teaching hospital. The results showed a 30% decline in overall lung scans performed during the pandemic.
A recent study presented at the 2022 ARRS Annual Meeting found that COVID-19 infection significantly impacted lung cancer screening in diverse inner-city populations. The research revealed that approximately 9% of participants developed COVID-19 during the pandemic, with mortality rates reaching 6.9%.
Dr. Gary J. Whitman, MD of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been appointed as the 122nd President of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS). He succeeds Jonathan Kruskal, MD, PhD, and will serve for the next year.
A retrospective study found high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing coronary artery calcium on contrast-enhanced and non-contrast chest CT. The visual ordinal assessment of CAC has prognostic utility, identifying patients at higher risk of cardiovascular events.
A team of researchers developed a prognostic model using automated brain scans and machine learning to predict survival and recovery in severe TBI patients. The model accurately predicted risk of death and unfavorable outcomes at six months after the injury, potentially improving clinical decision-making and patient care.
A recent study published in Neuro-Oncology found that genomic profiling led to more aggressive patient management resulting in improved clinical outcomes compared to traditional biologically matched historical cohorts.
Researchers found that video radiology reports improved patients' understanding of their results by using lay language and annotated images. The reports were also well-received by patients, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
A retrospective study found that higher coronary artery calcium score, higher pulmonary artery-to-aorta ratio, and lower thoracic skeletal muscle index independently predicted worse overall survival. The PA-to-aorta ratio was the most important predictor of overall survival.
A new approach called REFERS enables automatic acquisition of supervision signals from hundreds of thousands of radiology reports, achieving high accuracy in predictions. The innovative method reduces human cost by 90% and surpasses conventional medical image diagnosis employing AI algorithms.
Researchers found a steady decline in annual mammography use by breast cancer survivors between 2009 and 2016, with the largest decrease seen among younger patients. The study highlights the importance of reinforcing the significance of annual mammograms for breast cancer survivors.
A multicenter study found that only 42% of patients with a visualization score C on surveillance exams maintain the same score on follow-up exams. The study suggests that alternative surveillance strategies may be necessary for patients at risk for HCC, particularly those with severe steatosis and advanced cirrhosis.
A prospective study found that the 3-T Dixon gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence performed better than the current standard of 1.5-T SSFP for unenhanced coronary MRA, particularly in distal and branch segments. The technique demonstrated higher image quality, visible segments, sensitivity, and specificity for significant stenoses.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that half of all women will experience at least one false positive mammogram over a decade of annual breast cancer screening with 3D mammography. The risk of false positives is lower for women screened every other year, and non-dense breasts also show a lower false positive risk.
A retrospective case-control study found no significant difference in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage frequency between adult patients on antithrombotic therapy and those not on the therapy. However, hematoma expansion occurred more frequently in patients on antithrombotic therapy.
A retrospective study found that positive oral CT contrast material improves detection of malignant deposits, particularly with adequate bowel filling. The NPV for detection was 65.8% for positive oral contrast material with adequate bowel filling.
A multicenter study found relatively high interobserver agreement for chronic pancreatitis findings in children using both CT and MRI. However, subjective findings like atrophy showed moderate agreement, emphasizing the need for standardized criteria.
A multicenter study validates the accuracy and reliability of NS-RADS for classifying and grading peripheral neuropathies, with high interrater agreement across different reader experience levels. The study shows promising results for routine practice, suggesting NS-RADS as a standardized guideline for reporting peripheral neuropathies.
Researchers developed a new imaging approach called VascuViz to visualize blood vessels at different spatial scales. The method enables detailed mathematical models and complementary images to clarify the role of blood flow in health and disease, advancing our understanding of tissues throughout the body.
A retrospective study found that online patient experience ratings improved radiologists' performance, with scores increasing over time. The results showed that radiologists' performance was comparable to that of non-radiologist physicians, suggesting the value of implementing patient experience surveys in radiology.
Researchers developed a novel method of measuring aortic growth, called vascular deformation mapping, which outperforms standard manual rating methods. The technique uses high-resolution CT imaging to calculate three-dimensional changes in the aortic wall, achieving an accuracy of less than 1 millimeter.
A study published in American Journal of Roentgenology found that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) spot compression views increased both intrareader and interreader agreement, as well as diagnostic accuracy, for equivocal findings. This improvement was primarily due to increased specificity.
The American Roentgen Ray Society recognizes Drs. Nguyen, Beheshtian, Harfouch, and Hashiba for their outstanding research and education contributions to the field of radiology. The awards honor the candidates' scientific merit and potential impact on imaging and allied sciences research.
A new machine learning process has been developed to identify and classify hip fractures from X-rays, achieving 92% accuracy and confidence. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes, reduce care costs, and alleviate the bottleneck of unreported radiographs in the UK.
The American Roentgen Ray Society has awarded two 2022 ARRS Scholarships to Sean Woolen and Bradley Allen, providing a total of $180,000 in funding for their radiological research projects. The scholarships aim to advance emerging scholars and prepare them for leadership positions.
Researchers at TUM integrated dark-field X-ray imaging into a clinical CT scanner, providing additional information on fine tissue structures. The new prototype can capture both conventional and dark-field X-ray images in a single scan, potentially improving lung disease diagnosis and kidney stone differentiation.
A study of 74 healthy individuals found correlations between spleen volume and gender, age, and certain blood parameters such as HGB, HCT, RBC, ALT, but not others like LYM%, PLT. Spleen volume was estimated using the Cavalieri principle and stereological method.
A retrospective study found that the upgrade rate of architectural distortion on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to malignancy was 10.2% for radial scars without atypia and 28.2% for those with atypia. Imaging surveillance is considered an alternative to surgery for these cases.
Dr. Edward Y. Lee, MD, MPH, receives the highest distinction from North America's first radiological society for his contributions to pediatric thoracic imaging and education. The ARRS Gold Medal honors his tireless efforts to advance radiology globally.
Samuel Galgano and Pankaj Gupta have been named the 2022 Melvin M. Figley Fellow in Radiology Journalism and the 2022 Lee F. Rogers International Fellow in Radiology Journalism, respectively. They will attend the 2022 ARRS Annual Meeting and participate in the Editor’s Forum.
A retrospective study found that dual-energy CT examinations performed in 2019 had a significantly lower frequency of equivocal interpretations compared to those in 2013. Joint aspirations were also less likely to be performed after negative DECT interpretations in 2019.
A prospective observational study found that preoperative shear wave elastography (SWE) can predict successful rotator cuff repair. SWE-derived elasticity was higher in patients with insufficient repair, and the elasticity ratio independently predicted insufficient repair.
Researchers at Duke University developed an artificial intelligence platform that analyzes potentially cancerous lesions in mammography scans. The algorithm is interpretable, showing physicians how it came to its conclusions, making it more trustworthy and useful for training students and aiding physicians in sparsely populated regions.
A retrospective study found that whole-spine MRI commonly demonstrates isolated thoracolumbar injuries in children with suspected abusive head trauma. The study included 256 children who underwent whole-spine MRI as part of their evaluation, revealing that 23% of examinations showed injuries localized to the thoracolumbar spine.
Dr. Mark S. Parker, MD, FACR, has been recognized as the 2022 ARRS Distinguished Educator for his outstanding contributions to radiological education. He will be formally recognized at the ARRS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA on May 1, 2022.
A new study reveals that radiologist fatigue impacts performance differently depending on experience level. Less-experienced radiologists are more likely to recommend additional imaging for women undergoing breast cancer screening when interpreting digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images later in the day.
Automated brain volumetry in memory-impaired patients shows significant differences and systematic biases between conventional and ultrafast 3D T1-weighted MRI sequences. Most regions demonstrated substantial agreement but also significantly different mean values and consistent biases.
Researchers from Egypt used 3D CT scanning to 'digitally unwrap' the mummy of Pharaoh Amenhotep I, dispelling a theory that 21st dynasty restorers reused old royal burial equipment. The study revealed that the priests lovingly repaired injuries inflicted by tomb robbers and preserved the pharaoh's jewelry and amulets.
A new study found that AI can help physicians interpret x-rays after an injury and suspected fracture. AI-assisted diagnosis reduced missed fractures by 29% and increased sensitivity by 16%, improving efficiency and accuracy.
Researchers have published an extensive 7T fMRI dataset to study how humans perceive and interpret naturalistic photographs. The Natural Scenes Dataset provides a massive scale of brain data for training complex deep-learning models that predict brain activity.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a nanocomposite that absorbs X-rays with near-perfect efficiency and re-emits the energy as light. This innovation improves high-resolution medical imaging and security screening, with detection limits up to 142 times lower than traditional methods.