Siemens upgrades digital fluoro, radiographyFujiFilm allies with convertible ultrasound firmSchering cuts R&D deal with Stanford

For reasons unbeknownst to me, I attended the annual oration in radiation oncology today, something that I have never done. The talk, “Looking beyond anatomy-based treatment in radiation oncology” by Dr. Theodore Lawrence, was thankfully short on radiation physics. It was an interesting assessment of where rad-onc is and where it is going. Lawrence noted with irony that after 30 years of separation between radiation oncology and diagnostic radiology, the two fields are merging as functional imaging grows.

The swift rise of percutaneous ablative interventions represents one example of the power of innovation -- crushing barriers that stand between discovery and adoption into routine medical practice.

The growing worldwide popularity of soccer means that more radiologists are encountering injuries. Understanding the biomechanics of each injury, particularly in the ankle, enables them to make a more accurate diagnosis and recommend the most appropriate treatment, according to an educational exhibit presented at the RSNA meeting.

Software upgrades introduced by GE Healthcare this week for the company's LightSpeed VCT scanner promise to cut patient x-ray dose for coronary CT angiography by 70% or more and double the area covered during dynamic angiography and perfusion.

Amicas unveils software for referring docsBarco expands visualization offeringSiemens showcases MR advances

Cryotherapy is often portrayed as radiofrequency ablation’s little brother. But the thermal ablation technique is muscling in on malignancies in several organ systems, according to studies presented Tuesday at the RSNA meeting.

Automated whole-breast ultrasound (ABUS) helps find additional lesions in the screening setting and its performance in diagnostic studies alongside mammography is roughly equal to handheld ultrasound, according to studies presented on Wednesday at the RSNA meeting.

A disparate group of hospitals in Maine has been sharing a PACS for five years, achieving the same results as newer systems with advanced technologies such as XDS, according to a presentation at the RSNA meeting.

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

The era of 64-slice CT angiography as a tool to rule out cardiac catheterization in patients with an intermediate risk of coronary artery disease moved closer to reality at the RSNA meeting. A study confirming its superiority over dual-isotope SPECT for identifying CAD in these patients was reported in a Monday session.

Toshiba readies 256-slice CT for Johns HopkinsSiemens unveils X series ultrasoundNaviscan launches PEM Flex Solo II

PACS vendor CoActiv Medical Business Solutions highlighted a multimodality cardiovascular module for its Exam-PACS at the RSNA meeting. The new cardiovascular functionality combines local and remote viewing, management, distribution, and archiving of cardiac studies across several modalities, including nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, MR, and CT.

Relying on CT multiplanar reconstructions alone to pick up cervical spine fractures in blunt trauma patients is too risky, researchers said at an emergency radiology session at the RSNA meeting on Monday.

Multislice CT allows accurate measurement, guidance, and assessment of several minimally invasive interventional procedures to fix pelvic, spinal, and other musculoskeletal lesions, according to studies from France and Germany presented at the RSNA meeting Monday.

Software developer Viztek unveiled Opal-Rad, a Web-based thin-client PACS with image streaming, at the RSNA meeting. Opal-Rad downloads applications from a central server, turning PCs into diagnostic workstations.

German researchers have found that low-dose 64-slice CT colonography accurately detects colorectal polyps in a screening population. They also tested a new 3D visualization tool that enables simultaneous antegrade and retrograde views, significantly decreasing interpretation time.

The era of 64-slice CT angiography as a tool to rule out cardiac catheterization in patients with an intermediate risk of coronary artery disease moved closer to reality at the RSNA meeting. A study confirming its superiority over dual-isotope SPECT for identifying CAD in these patients was reported in a Monday session.

Positional MRI, which allows patients free range of motion during imaging, has allowed researchers to determine the optimal sitting posture to reduce chronic back problems. The technique may also be of value in future seating design.

The Axiom Artis dBA Twin, equipped with two 30 by 40-cm flat detectors, debuted at the RSNA meeting, positioned by Siemens Medical Systems as offering the largest anatomical coverage of any biplane system available.