RSNA

A topic can be so dynamic it defies easy explanation. This was the case Monday as Michael E. Phelps, Ph.D, circumnavigated the subject of molecular imaging in his presentation of the 2004 Pendergrass New Horizons lecture.

Today was the kind of day I like at the RSNA meeting. I reviewed some old stuff, learned some new stuff, and had some great laughs.

The drum beat for the next generation of CT scanners began the moment visitors to the RSNA meeting set foot on the exhibit floor Sunday. Siemens, GE, Philips, and Toshiba are either shipping 64-slice scanners or plan to do so next year. At the RSNA meeting, Toshiba is focusing primarily on its 64-slice scanner, which is now in full production, while offering its 32-slice version, also in production, as an economical alternative. The Aquilion 32 is priced at $200,000 below the $1.5 million list price of the Aquilion 64.

Hybrid imaging dominates the nuclear medicine section of the RSNA exhibit floor. Philips and Siemens are promoting multislice SPECT/CT, while GE, which pioneered the idea five years ago, is showing an upgraded version of its Infinia gamma camera coupled to a single-slice, nondiagnostic CT for attenuation correction.

Instead of scrounging for informatics training from grand rounds speakers or random presentations, residents at one medical center can now take advantage of an informatics-specific curriculum.

Radiologists need to communicate with referring physicians more often and listen more closely to orthopedics surgeons’ reporting preferences, according to the results of University of California, San Diego survey that were announced Tuesday at the RSNA meeting.

Even highly experienced radiologists can overlook cancers, a fact that bedevils breast imagers. Double reading has been shown to help inexperienced readers and increase cancer detection rates. It turns out that even old hands at mammography can also benefit from the practice.

Wherever self-referral guru Dr. David Levin goes, controversy is sure to follow. Tuesday morning’s refresher course on self-referral was no different.

Breast tomosynthesis may be a work-in-progress in the RSNA exhibit halls, but researchers are already considering ways to incorporate computer-assisted detection algorithms to improve its efficacy.

Full-field digital mammography is comparable to screen-film in detecting breast cancer, according to results of a randomized trial in Norway involving nearly 25,000 women.

Perforation rates for a CT colonography, while still low and acceptable, are fast approaching those of traditional optical colonoscopy.

The RSNA’s Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting Program provides an encyclopedia of clinical innovations, issues, and trends in the practice of radiology. This year’s 912- page edition is no different. What strikes a reader of this tome, even without the presence of a subject index to reinforce the point, is the number of courses focused on utilization and technology updates for the all-digital radiology department.

A new line of mobile display workstations is moving PACS into the operating room. The Dome Surgery Review Cart family, released by Planar Systems at the RSNA meeting, overcomes problems that have kept PACS out of the OR. The need to maintain sterile conditions and limitations on space have barred the door to PACS.

Hologic, which in recent years has made women’s health its principal focus, is showing its full-field digital breast tomosynthesis system as a work-in-progress for the second consecutive RSNA meeting. Despite growing interest in this technology, the company expects to present it as a work-in-progress again next year.

Recognizing that PET/CT is quickly becoming standard in oncological imaging and that quality teaching materials are needed, Dr. Todd Blodgett has taken matters into his own hands.

The Access Breast Coil appearing for the first time at the RSNA meeting has a multichannel phased-array architecture to enhance image quality of the breast, axillary tissue, and chest wall. The investigational device, which is being shown at the Confirma booth, has multiple receivers to power the phased-array coils, which may reduce MR imaging time, as well as a large field-of-view. It can support unilateral and bilateral imaging.

Imagine turning minutes of downtime during the workday into valuable CME credits. Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin have taken advantage of information technology to develop an electronic learning environment that provides radiological education on demand.

Fujifilm Medical Systems has combined its customizable Flex UI digital x-ray software application with the convenience of PDAs to introduce the FCR Pocket ID at the RSNA meeting. With the Pocket ID, patient data can be accessed quickly and verified at the patient’s bedside, permitting caregivers to increase efficiency while reducing the potential for medical errors, according to the company.

The disruption of dopamine transportation in brain white matter may be the underlying reason that children suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. In addition, MR diffusion tensor imaging suggests that drug therapy repairs the damaged fiber bundles indicated in ADHD pathology.

Siemens Medical Solutions has introduced at the RSNA meeting a digital enhancement and mobile flat-panel detector for its Axiom Sireskop SD. With the addition of those upgrades, all Siemens AX systems are now available in a digital format.

Although the globalization of everything from transcription to equipment assembly permeates medical imaging, radiologists need not fear that outsourcing will threaten their jobs, according to Dr. James Thrall, radiologist-in-chief at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The growing popularity of noncardiac pacemakers is putting additional pressures on radiologists to recognize them on MR imaging, check for their proper positioning and complications, and determine the MR compatibility of the various devices.

CT screening of high-risk patients can find lung cancers early. It can also keep patients alive.

PET/CT is significantly more accurate than CT alone, PET alone, and side-by-side CT and PET when assessing the TNM stage of different malignant diseases. This diagnostic advantage translates into treatment plan changes in a substantial number of patients, according to Dr. Gerald Antoch and colleagues at University Hospital Essen in Germany.

Kodak is unveiling at the RSNA meeting the latest version of its RIS/PACS technology, a suite of products that supports native applications including 3D volume rendering. The enhanced version of DirectView System 5 allows improved customization and the ability to save display protocols.

Proponents of CT colonography may lower the bar in measuring the imaging modality against conventional colonoscopy. After a wave of mediocre sensitivity results, many experts are asking whether it should be compared instead with optical colonoscopy or air contrast barium enema.

The name may be Radiological Society of North America, but the society has seen major growth from outside North America during the last 10 years in both membership and attendance at its annual meeting, according to RSNA president Dr. Brian C. Lentle.

Blue lasers have a shorter wavelength than traditionally used red lasers, allowing more data to be stored in smaller spaces. Two companies promoting blue laser technology at the RSNA meeting are presenting similar claims and products.

A system that mines radiology reports for trends and findings was displayed during a scientific session Sunday.

GE Healthcare hopes that its flagship LightSpeed VCT will lift the company out of the slice rut into which the CT industry has fallen. The company is positioning the premium scanner as the first true volumetric scanner.