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In the aftermath of Medicare’s less than encouraging evaluation of virtual CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening, Dr. Elizabeth McFarland used the RSNA’s Annual Oration in Diagnostic Radiology to identify past achievements and ongoing initiatives she believes will lead to the modality’s acceptance.

In response to demands for evidence that cardiac CT will positively affect patient outcomes, researchers presented results at the RSNA conference Wednesday attesting to its value for identifying which intermediate risk patients are most likely to suffer future catastrophic coronary events.

Philips Healthcare showcased at RSNA 2008 a hybrid SPECT/CT that incorporates a flat-panel x-ray system in place of a standard multislice CT. The FDA-cleared scanner, BrightView XCT, which debuted at the Society of Nuclear Medicine meeting in New Orleans, is built around the BrightView SPECT that Philips released commercially last year.

Siemens Healthcare showcased at RSNA 2008 a PET/CT designed with radiologists in mind. It emphasizes CT performance and casts PET as the “smart contrast” that enhances the dynamic information delivered by CT. Siemens is pitching the CT component of its new Biograph mCT (molecular CT) as the most important part of the scanner and the PET component as delivering complementary information.

Business Briefs

GE launches new digital XR systemsPhilips unveils new 16-slice CTDigital stereotaxy adds to GE digital mammoTouchscreen enhances GE compact ultrasound

The news was mixed for CT in the emergency department in research presented Wednesday at the RSNA meeting. CT was found to be better than ultrasound for diagnosing ER patients with abdominal pain, but radiation dose can be drastically reduced for patients suspected of appendicitis, according to authors of several studies.

Radiologists should aggressively contest otherwise scientifically sound information on cardiac CT radiation risks that is taken out of context or blown out of proportion, fomenting unreasonable fears of medical imaging among patients.

The 2008 RSNA meeting serves as a reference point of sorts for two important trials testing the clinical efficacy of multislice cardiac CT. Results from the Core64 trials of 64-slice coronary CTA were published Nov. 28 while plans for a Core320 trial were announced in Chicago at the RSNA show.

Business Briefs

Supplier highlights image enhancement softwarePhilips expands CT portfolio with 128-slice CTToshiba unveils breast MR suiteToshiba extends ultrasound reach in breast imagingGE launches low-dose LightSpeed VCTGE debuts thin-client 3D system

Desist using just RECIST when monitoring neuroendocrine tumors. A combined imaging approach that draws on both molecular and morphological information provides a much better measure of early treatment response, according to a leading German nuclear medicine specialist.