News that two views are better than one with the emerging and promising technology of breast tomosynthesis raises questions about the technique’s practicality and cost-effectiveness as a screening tool.

Just when the bickering about vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty seemed headed for history, several presentations at the RSNA meeting Sunday rekindled debate over the right fix for vertebral compression fractures.

Fatal complications resulting from interventional procedures can be avoided in up to half of cases if radiologists follow the correct procedures. Being familiar with good technique, understanding the desired end point of any procedure, and knowing when to ask for help are keys to success.

Philips releases 1.5T to 3T upgradeGE shrinks BrightSpeed CTAloka upgrades ProSound Alpha 10Siemens integrates CR into mobile x-raySonoSite MicroMax sets new mark

Philips Medical Systems has taken the concept of PACS to a 3D plane. The Dutch company featured its iSite PACS at the RSNA meeting as common ground for bringing together its digital imaging technologies.

Philips Medical Systems debuted a new flagship gamma camera on the RSNA exhibit floor: BrightView SPECT, a compact nuclear medicine camera that can be scaled to fit different needs and budgets.

Noncathartic bowel preparation is not an obstacle to accurate CT colonography (CTC). Preparations such as fecal tagging, electronic cleansing, and the use of stool-subtraction algorithms produce results comparable to those obtained with conventional bowel-cleansing preparations, according to studies presented at the 2006 RSNA meeting.

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.

Elasticity imaging with ultrasound allows radiologists to accurately distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions, according to a study presented at the RSNA meeting on Monday. Researchers using the technique correctly identified both cancerous and benign lesions in nearly all of the cases studied.

Seeking to broaden the appeal of its line of gamma cameras, Philips Medical Systems released at the RSNA show today BrightView, a new SPECT platform that can be configured to meet customer demands for premium or value performance. The variable angle dual-head BrightView can handle any exam, including cardiac studies, even supporting multiple acquisition protocols simultaneously.

EDDA Technology introduced its enterprise-wide computer-aided detection solution for digital x-ray at the 2006 RSNA meeting. The new version of the company's chest CAD product, IQQA-Chest Enterprise, has evolved from a dedicated workstation to one that can be used on existing PACS review consoles.

Siemens Medical Solutions has launched its newly acquired MammoTest breast biopsy table at the RSNA meeting. Rights to the system were acquired by Siemens this summer from now-defunct Fischer Imaging in a deal brokered by the Federal Trade Commission. Managers in every country should be well versed on the prone stereotactic biopsy unit and ready to begin selling it globally, said Erica Rouleau, national sales director for women’s health at Siemens.

Noncathartic bowel preparation is not an obstacle to accurate CT colonography (CTC). Preparations such as fecal tagging, electronic cleansing, and the use of stool-subtraction algorithms produce results comparable to those obtained with conventional bowel-cleansing preparations, according to studies presented at the RSNA meeting on Monday.

Two new IT products from Mercury Computer Systems that are ready for commercial release are being highlighted at the 2006 RSNA meeting. The advanced function, new clinical applications, and improved image quality and performance of the Visage CS and Visage PACS will be featured. The company announced on Nov. 17 that its PACS and client server have cleared the FDA.

Computer-aided detection pioneer iCAD demonstrated at the 2006 RSNA meeting SecondLook version 7.2, its latest mammography CAD product. It was released in September. The company will also exhibit works-in-progress products that address mammography and CT colonography. The company sells its latest version of CAD to end-users and OEMs.

Computed radiography arrived at the RSNA meeting Sunday ready for sale into the U.S. market as a mammography application. At the head of the pack was Fujifilm Medical Systems USA, the only vendor with FDA approval to sell CR for mammography. It received the agency green light in July.

IT specialist ScImage debuted a multidepartment PACS, Version 3.0 PicomEnterprise, at the 2006 RSNA meeting. The PACS uses a single database, which allows exams to be scheduled, tracked, reported, archived, and distributed across radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine, and orthopedics using one Web-based log-on.

IT developer Meta Fusion introduced at the RSNA meeting a value-priced RIS/PACS that can be tailored to imaging centers and small hospitals. The Helium system will ship preconfigured to customers’ specifications, thereby eliminating the need for IT support. Setup requires only that the site attach to the network and add a PC-based viewing station with minimal configuration. The scalable system is designed to grow with the installation. Remote 24/7 monitoring and upgrades that download automatically over the Internet are included.

The assumption that CT colonography is the logical choice for pairing with optical colonoscopy to stage colorectal cancer took a hit at the RSNA meeting today. A prospective study from Europe shows that whole-body FDG-PET/CT is significantly more accurate than CT colonography for staging colorectal tumors.

Philips Medical Systems has taken the concept of PACS to a 3D plane. The Dutch company featured its iSite PACS at the RSNA meeting as common ground for bringing together its digital imaging technologies.