SPOTLIGHT -
Studies Show Symptom Relief for MS Patients Following Angioplasty
Patients with MS who undergo the minimally invasive endovascular treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency may experience significant symptom relief and short-term improvement in quality of life.
Lower Dosage CT-guided Lung Biopsy May Reduce Overall Lung Cancer Deaths
New guidelines that call for lower radiation exposure from CT-guided biopsies of lung nodules allows more people to undergo the procedure and may result in fewer overall lung cancer deaths.
Interventional Radiologists Find Promise in Prostatic Artery Embolization
Prostatic artery embolization may be an effective treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia for men who may not be able to undergo transurethral resection of the prostate.
AAPM Recommends Against Use of Bismuth Shielding for CT Scanning
In a position statement, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine advise against using bismuth shields for dose reduction in CT scanning when alternatives are available.
MRI Breast Cancer Screening May Be Cost Effective for Women with Familial Risk
Adding MRI to breast cancer screening is expensive but may be cost effective for women with a family history of breast cancer - even if they don’t have the BRCA1/2 gene mutation, researchers found.
PET/CT Predicts Survival in Breast Cancer Patients with Hepatic Metastases
FDG PET/CT before and after selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) can help predict survival among patients with breast cancer with hepatic metastases, researchers found.
MRI Combo Improves Pulmonary Embolism Detection, Provides Alternative to CT
The addition of two MRI sequences to a common MR angiography technique significantly improves detection of pulmonary embolism and only takes 15 minutes to set up and perform.
MRI Effective in Assessing Abnormal Femoral Antetorsion, or In-Toeing
MRI is effective in measuring abnormal femoral antetorsion, or in-toeing, and the images can then be used in treatment planning for patients with femoroacetabular impingement.
MRI Shows Some Astronauts Experience Brain and Eye Abnormalities
MRI findings show that astronauts exposed to zero gravity for prolonged periods can develop brain and eye abnormalities.
Number of Head CT Scans Ordered in the ED Vary Widely
The use of head CT scans in the emergency department varies widely depending on who the attending doctors are when patients arrive.
Importing Outside Images to PACS Significantly Cuts Repeat Imaging
Patients whose outside images were imported into their institutions' PACS were significantly less likely to undergo repeat imaging.
Ultrasound-Based Transient Elastography Accurately Detects Cirrhosis
Ultrasound-based transient elastography provides excellent diagnostic accuracy in identifying cirrhosis due to recurrent hepatitis C following liver transplantation.
Study: USPSTF Mammogram Recs Based on Inaccurate Information
The number of women who must undergo mammograms to prevent one breast cancer death is lower than stated by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, researchers found.
E-Learning Module Helps Med Students Learn Radiation Protection
As imaging use has increased, so has the need for medical professionals to understand appropriate utilization and possible adverse effects of radiation exposure.
CMS Measurement for Brain CT Scans Unreliable, Misleading
A CMS quality measurement for use of CT scans on emergency department patients with atraumatic headaches is not reliable, researchers found.
CT Colonography as Accurate as Standard Colonoscopy in Seniors
Computerized tomographic colonography (CTC), or virtual colonoscopy, is just as accurate as standard colonoscopies in detecting cancer and precancerous polyps in people aged 65 years and older.
Mammography for Younger Women Means Better Prognosis
Women in their 40s who are diagnosed with breast cancer detected by mammography have a better prognosis than women whose cancer was found by themselves or their doctors.
fMRI Detects Brain Changes in MS Patients Following Cognitive Rehabilitation
Functional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated changes in brain function and cognitive performance in patients with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis following a cognitive rehabilitation program.
CardioGen-82 to Return to Market with Boxed Warning
PET imaging agent CardioGen-82 is returning to the U.S. market with a revised label warning of unintended radiation exposure risk.
MRI Reveals Signs of Autism at 6 Months
Diffusion tensor imaging, an MRI technique, showed that significant differences in the brains of high-risk children who go on to develop autism can be seen before symptoms appear.
Diffusion-Weighted MRI Most Effective MRI Technique to Monitor Ovarian Cancer
Diffusion-weighted MRI is the most effective MRI technique to detect and evaluate patient response to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy for late-state ovarian cancer.
Radiology Industry Groups Oppose Cuts in President’s Budget Proposal
ACR, MITA, and AMIC voiced objections to the proposed cuts through an increase in the assumed rate of utilization of advanced imaging equipment and the implementation of prior authorization for medical imaging.
Early CT Angiography Identifies Recurrent Stroke Risk
Use of CT/CT angiography, often more readily available than MRI, after a transient ischemic attack or minor stroke predicts risk of recurrent stroke and clinical outcome.
PET with FDG May Predict Outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Positron emission tomography with 18F-FDG during chemotherapy can help predict a patient’s response to therapy.
Large Hospital System Successfully Adopts CPOE for Radiology
Broad adoption of a computerized physician order entry system with imaging decision support showed ability to improve health care delivery.
PET Technique Useful in Challenging Breast Cancer Cases
Whole-body positron emission tomography with 18F-FES can provide valuable information for patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, a study found.