Politicians across the globe are enthusiastic about encouraging the adoption of medical information technology. The primary goal is to reduce errors, and one way to accomplish that might be to give patients responsibility for their medical records. A radiologist in Graz, Austria, has done exactly that, with surprising results.

Few radiologists would disagree that computer-assisted detection in the colon has a long way to go before it is ready for routine clinical implementation. But once the remaining technical challenges have been overcome, advocates for CT colonography screening will have a far stronger case, according to speakers at the CARS meeting in June.

Molecular imaging is an important component of new research projects financed by the National Cancer Institute’s Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence program.

Although most orthopedists have heard of PACS or seen the software on display at a medical conference, few have had the time to learn about it in detail. A growing number of orthopedists are contemplating integrating PACS into their practice, however, and understanding filmless radiology prior to purchase and implementation is critical.

A successful PACS implementation outside of the radiology department requires planning, organization, and flexibility, according to research presented at the PACS 2005 conference in San Antonio.

Research unveiled at this year’s European Society of Cardiology meeting could affect interventional strategies for treating coronary disease. Results from a U.K. multicenter trial indicate that early intervention is better than a wait-and-see policy for patients with partial vessel occlusion. Meanwhile, a Swiss team presented data questioning the cost-effectiveness of drug-eluting stents for revascularization.

Voice recognition has made the jump from emerging to mature technology without raising a hair on the head of radiology. Such a transition is typically accompanied by a sales curve that rockets up, levels off, and then blasts off again, as early adopters pick up on the technology, publish their experiences, and convince the masses to get on board.

Philips has released a package of enhancements and new system configurations for its ultrasound portfolio. The upgrades, known collectively as Vision 2005, include new capabilities for the company’s latest radiology and cardiology platforms.

Molecular imaging is gaining ground. The fourth annual Society for Molecular Imaging (SMI) meeting held Sept. 7 to 10 in Cologne, Germany, drew nearly 1100 attendees, up from about 800 at last year’s meeting in St. Louis. About 60% of attendees were from the U.S. The rest were from Europe and Asia, primarily Japan and South Korea.

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The last contractual hole in the mass deployment of PACS to English hospitals has been plugged. Agfa-Gevaert has been selected as sole PACS supplier for public hospitals in the North-East and Eastern regions of England. Radiologists at the 75 hospitals covered by the agreement, however, are still waiting to hear who might provide a new RIS.

The Society for Computer Applications in Radiology has taken the first steps toward establishing a PACS administrator certification program. The announcement has provoked a complicated dialogue between several organizations regarding the best approach to providing PACS certification, including one that already offers certification for analysts and administrators.

Telephone calls from referring physicians to radiology administrative services decreased nearly 80% after implementation of PACS and enterprise image distribution at the University Hospital Ghent in Belgium. While the impact on radiology telephone traffic was significant, the decrease was not consistent throughout the department. Investigators reported a 40% reduction in calls to radiologists.

Even partial use of a voice recognition system can significantly speed up radiologist report generation, enabling more clinicians to view images with the corresponding reports, according to a study presented at the 2005 SCAR meeting.

Advances in electronic image transmission have the potential to change the face of radiology. Using technology supported by PACS and radiology information systems, interpreting radiologists can provide timely services to multiple facilities while practicing "virtually" from almost any location. This capability has allowed entry of international teleradiology into the U.S. market, and it has opened the door to increased competition for interpretation contracts, even across state lines.

The new capabilities that result from upgrades to imaging modalities may have a greater effect on imaging volume than does growth in the number of patients who undergo imaging. Even as hospitals planning for a PACS carefully project their storage needs, improved imaging technology may lead to significant increases in storage requirements. New strategies are emerging, however, to tackle this data deluge.

Digital mammography represents the last frontier for diagnostic imaging departments and imaging centers that have implemented PACS. For some imaging centers, particularly those specializing in breast imaging, digital mammography provides the catalyst for converting to digital image management. Many facilities that do not have the preparation or the staff to accomplish this transition seek a ready-made solution.

The Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise initiative has released a series of new guidelines that should help secure its role in the move toward electronic health records. Medical information technology is tackling a growing list of issues related to this effort, according to a panel presentation at the CARS conference.

A series of new guidelines released by the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise initiative should help move the effort into a role within the electronic health record as medical information technology tackles a growing list of issues, judging from a panel presentation at the Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery meeting in June.

Interventional radiologists can help a subtype of diabetic patients effectively reduce the risk of a sudden, violent drop in their blood glucose with a relatively simple procedure called islet cell infusion, according to the National Institutes of Health.