Radiologists perform most diagnostic and minimally invasive interventional musculoskeletal studies in the U.S., with some areas experiencing continuous growth. Data released last Wednesday at the RSNA meeting, however, suggest future turf battles between radiologists and surgeons are lurking on the horizon.

Molecular imaging is maturing as a scientific force in preclinical research and as a mechanism to guide imaging discoveries toward clinical practice.

CONTEXT: Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is a powerful near-infrared modality that produces 3D quantitative images of fluorochrome distribution in live small animals. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been used clinically to induce bone and cartilage formation.

FDG-PET has shown a remarkable sensitivity in detecting malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, but it lacks specificity. The addition of carbon-11 methionine to FDG-PET studies could boost sensitivity to 95%, according to researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that combining catheter-directed thrombolysis with a mechanical thrombectomy device might be more successful than either procedure alone in treating deep vein thrombosis. The results of the first study to compare the procedures support the combined technique as the most cost-effective approach.

Philips Medical Systems has devised a way to put 3T within reach of customers with an MR system configured for 1.5T but upgradeable to 3T.

Siemens launches dual-energy CTToshiba introduces new Infinix systemSiemens unveils Web-enabled CTThales unveils two flat-panel detectors

Contrary to popular practice, both pre- and postcontrast imaging is necessary for proper MR evaluation of articular cartilage repair, according to new research conducted in Japan. The small study could carry implications for treatment evaluation.

Dual-source CT represents a significant advance for coronary CT angiography. In our preliminary experience, it has made CTA more robust and provided reliable assessment of vessel wall irregularities and stenoses without motion artifacts. Radiation exposure can be reduced significantly compared with conventional CTA.

The adage about comparing apples to oranges accurately describes the challenge you face. PACS quotes can be complicated and cryptic, with vendors providing pricing in their own proprietary formats that make it difficult to compare across categories, components, or specific line items.

A British research team is applying a new twist to an old technique for treating ankle injuries in high-performance athletes. The procedure involves use of ultrasound to guide steroid and anesthetic injections and was originally described in the literature a decade ago for treating ankle impingement in ballet dancers.

Some vendors promote 3D imaging and others 3D display. Now Siemens Medical Solutions has both. The company is selling a monitor that produces volumetric images that float in space beyond its flat screen. This capability was possible in the past but only when wearing glasses with multicolored lenses or shutters that snapped open and closed 25 or more times a second.

Successful speech recognition implementation depends on overcoming three common challenges: radiologist misperceptions, poor preparation, and lack of support. Using a real-life implementation as an example, we examine these obstructive elements and offer guidance about overcoming them.

Canadian officials estimate that by 2010, at least half of all residents will have their own electronic health record. The EHR is intended to include a cradle-to-grave clinical history, using a single patient identification number. It will eventually be interoperable across the country and its multitiered healthcare delivery organizations. This prediction is not just a political pipedream, as implementation is already well under way.

It's a nightmare scenario for any PACS-enabled hospital: the image management system crashes and thousands of studies disappear into the Ethernet. Experts say damage control in the event of such a disaster would be optimized if standardized training and testing existed for PACS administrators. Luckily, formal credentialing is right around the corner, promising more security for hospitals seeking qualified candidates in image management and upward career mobility for those involved in managing PACS.

GE Healthcare's latest invention, SnapShot Cine, is a multislice CT software enhancement that borrows its method from the days of axial scanning. The big difference is that it cuts the x-ray dose for cardiac scans by 70% or more compared with conventional CT.

Complementary methods have helped physicians at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas improve the success rate of surgical treatments for ectopic parathyroid adenoma.

A prospective trial involving 75 patients from six Dutch hospitals recommends whole-body FDG-PET over conventional scintigraphy for uncovering the cause of fevers of unknown origin.

Affiliation in the digital era means more than hospital practice privileges. Workaday's clinic is integrated with new workflow engines at NYUMC.