Diagnostic Imaging Staff

Canadian researchers developed a tool to use with low-dose CT screening that accurately estimates the probability of lung nodule malignancies.

Researchers determined radiologic findings among humans with influenza A H7N9.

Patients who undergo head and neck CTs have higher risk of developing cataracts than those never exposed to the procedure.

Intraoperative cholangiography use during cholecystectomy does not reduce the incidence of common hepatic duct or common bile duct injuries.

Ultrasound imaging of thyroid may identify cancers among low-risk patients; decrease rate of unnecessary thyroid biopsies.

Breast lesions rated as category 3 (BI-RADS) on ultrasound could wait 12 months for re-evaluation.

Women with breast cancer who undergo preoperative MRI have a higher rate of bilateral mastectomies and contralateral prophylactic mastectomies than women who aren’t scanned.

Medical students who followed a three-day elective course covering the ACR Appropriateness Criteria were more knowledgeable about appropriate image utilization.

MRI images of the brain may help clinicians identify kindergarten-aged children with dyslexia before they have started to learn how to read.

Ankle radiographs performed on children presenting with acute ankle injuries dropped by almost 22 percent in emergency rooms that implemented the Low Risk Ankle Rule.

Despite the availability of clinical guidelines for optimal spine care for back pain patients, many unnecessary diagnostic imaging tests are being performed.

Specialized MRIs allow physicians to view progress in brain cancer treatment before it can be detected by standard MRI, allowing for early therapy changes.

18F-FDG PET/CT can better assess bone marrow involvement in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma than can standard bone biopsy.

Web-based quality control system results in significantly fewer common image quality errors radiographs, CTs and MRIs.

Women with some breast tissue abnormalities may avoid surgery if they undergo yearly mammograms plus MRI and ultrasound to monitor for changes.

Digital tomosynthesis results in fewer false positives and reduces recall rates, but has higher radiation doses than mammography.

Mammography recall rates may be influenced by factors outside of radiologists’ control, and rates might not be a great measure of quality.

Using urology meetings to provide constant and consistent education regarding accepted clinical guidelines for screening low-risk prostate cancer patients results in a drop of unnecessary tests.

Physicians used significantly lower radiation doses for cardiac CT angiography when weekly dose reports provided feedback on the tests performed.

The average salaries of radiologic technologists rose by only 1.7 percent in the last three years - a far slower growth than in previous periods.

The use of electronic health records cut the cost of outpatient care, including radiology, by 3 percent, compared with the use of paper records.

Too many CT scans are still performed on children complaining of headaches.

CMS’s proposed hospital outpatient payments for 2014 would cut reimbursement for CT and MRI studies by 18 percent to 38 percent, according to the ACR.

Radiologist workstations have more bacteria than do nearby toilet seats and doorknobs.

If radiologists want to be involved in making decision regarding medical imaging tests, they will need to step up and make themselves heard.

Using a half dose of contrast with 3-T MRI for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis shows identical image quality as full-dose.

Medical imaging policy should not depend on spending alone, as evidenced by a decrease in imaging tests performed, while costs stay steady or rise.

CT angiogram monitoring of patients with cerebral aneurysms helps identify if and when the aneurysms grow, increasing the risk of rupture.

Siemens Healthcare has received FDA clearance for their MAMMOMAT Inspiration Prime Edition lower dose mammography system.

iPads are helping radiology residents learn by providing access to online journals and texts, but they still have not become essential work tools.