Technical advances in MRI have paved the way for functional imaging of the abdomen, moving beyond simple morphological evaluation of disease and in sometimes proving superior to multislice CT. With quantitative imaging tools at their disposal, radiologists are rethinking what they need to visualize with MR to answer new clinical questions.

Patients with compressive or entrapment neuropathies of the elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand may go straight to sonographic examination. In skilled hands, ultrasound can produce images that reveal pathology as well as MR images can.

Being part of a big, multifaceted company can be constraining. Just ask Kevin Hobert, who wears two hats for Eastman Kodak: president of Kodak’s Health Group and senior vice president of the company whose products have fed demand from both professionals and consumers.

Patient files lawsuit against OptiMark makers Europe approves Kodak/Onex dealGE showcases laptop scanner at AIUM meetingACR launches research group

March was a month of notable progress for cardiac MR, with studies demonstrating the impressive prognostic power of adenosine stress perfusion and dobutamine stress wall motion imaging. The combination was nearly perfect in identifying patients who would be safe from cardiac death or myocardial infarction for at least three years. Recent cardiac imaging studies also affirm fusion imaging’s value for diagnosing coronary artery disease.

ContextVision unveils ultrasound algorithmSpineAssist improves safety, precision

GE Healthcare is refining its mobile approach to screening mammography in outreach efforts aimed at serving Europe’s diverse populations, adapting digital technology to meet the rural challenges found in both Western and Eastern European nations.

This month’s review glances through a survey of safety issues among practitioners of fetal ultrasonography. We ran into a study using computer-adided detection to differentiate benign from malignant breast tumors. In a different study, researchers inAsia discuss a new application to detect a bacterial pathogen associated with increasing levels of liver disease and even diabetes in Western and Eastern populations. We also found an interesting study advocating the use of “telesonography” to aid developing countries where ultrasound scanners represent the dominant -- sometimes the only -- imaging modality. Finally, we summarize a review of a new book about pediatric musculoskeletal disease.

“I predict that lung radiofrequency ablation is going to be very big indeed,” said Dr. Alice Gillams at the beginning of her two presentations at the European Congress of Radiology in Vienna Saturday examining factors influencing tumor recurrence and incidence of pneumothoraces.

Philips and BrainLab unveiled their own brands of magic at the European Congress of Radiology, one creating an illusion of 3D, the other an interface relying on sleight of hand.

A thorough understanding of client-server relationships is crucial in choosing an appropriate PACS, since many different methods allow clients to view images from the server.

Sectra enhances digital mammography at ECRAgfa demonstrates fusion module at ECRRogan Delft shows enhanced workstation at ECRFujifilm cuts storage deal with HitachiZonare attracts $15M equity fundingMindray sets records in 4Q, fiscal 2006ExAblate readies for Canada

Few controversies in radiology have generated as much interest as that of whole-body imaging. But niche-specific indications for the technique may quell the controversy.

Technological advances to CT and MRI allow radiologists to perform whole-body examinations in mere seconds. This has changed the way radiologists use whole-body imaging in diagnostics, according to Dr. Maximilian Reiser, director of the Institute for Clinical Radiology at the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich and incoming 2008 president of the European Congress of Radiology.

The combined functional and morphological approach to imaging afforded by PET/CT and SPECT/CT has far-reaching technical, diagnostic, and economic advantages, according to Dr. Gerald Antoch of the department of diagnostic and interventional radiology and neuroradiology at the University Hospital Essen in Germany. He moderated Monday’s state-of-the art symposium on the use of PET/CT and SPECT/CT for cardiac and oncologic purposes.

PET moves to change kidney cancer managementSunPoint debuts digital viewbox Dynamic Imaging signs NovationRamSoft broadens market approach Siemens absorbs patient ID assets

Three-D took on a new dimension at the European Congress of Radiology, where Philips Medical systems combined a big-screen LCD with algorithms developed initially to convert DVD-based movies into 3D.

Bone marrow edema produces characteristic alterations in signal (low on T1- and high on T2-weighted MR images), but its pattern of presentation is highly nonspecific, posing a challenge for radiologists. Edema-like bone marrow patterns generally are reflected by ill-defined increased signal changes on fluid-sensitive sequences such as short-tau inversion recovery or fat-suppressed T2-weighted.

Two tubes are better than one, if you ask Siemens Medical Solutions. Simultaneous x-ray beams rotating every 330 msec on the Somatom Definition CT gantry stop any motion in its tracks, even that of the heart. Now Siemens is taking the concept a step further.

Patients with compressive or entrapment neuropathies of the elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand may go straight to sonographic examination. In skilled hands, ultrasound can produce images that reveal pathology as well as MR images can. But while the diagnosis of a tendon rupture is a relatively simple matter with ultrasound, to assess specific neurological injuries, such as nerve entrapment and compression, the technique requires considerable experience, expertise, and patience, said Dr. Javier Beltran of the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.