Ultrasound

Doves like truces. A truce gives the two sides a chance to enjoy peace, if only for a short time. Maybe they’ll like it enough to stop fighting altogether, or so the thinking goes.

Researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have performed real-time functional cardiac MRI in fetuses. Theirs is the first report of this technique, which may represent an advance over the current gold standard of fetal echocardiography.

Doppler ultrasonography with perfusion software and contrast agent injection can be used to predict which patients with metastatic renal cell cancer will respond to treatment with the antiangiogenic drug sorafenib, according to a study presented at the 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando.

Near-infrared light used with ultrasound can zero in on early-stage breast tumors, potentially reducing the number of biopsies, according to a study in the October issue of Radiology.

GE enhances ProdigyBone densitometry isn’t just for adults any more. GE Healthcare has enhanced its Prodigy bone mineral density system to support pediatric applications. New tools evaluate the pediatric skeleton relative to a child’s body size and skeletal age, as well as chronological age comparison. The upgrade was unveiled at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research meeting in Nashville Sept. 23 to 27.

The ultrasound market in the U.S. stumbled last year, with the exception of hand-carried systems. Sales of ultrasound units were flat in 2004, but demand for handheld systems grew in the double digits, according to industry sources. The physicians driving those sales included not only radiologists but relative newcomers to the ultrasound fold such as surgeons and emergency room physicians.

Today's log at the imaging center shows 15 patients scheduled for different examinations. Most come with abdominal or musculoskeletal symptoms, and almost half of them are overweight. The daytime sonographer called in sick earlier, so the radiologist needs to make a tough call: Does she perform 15 ultrasound exams herself or does she shuttle everyone through to any of the CT or MR scanners available?

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.

Mammography study boosts CAD prospectsiCAD expands partnershipFDA approves Kodak mammography CADHospital chain taps AquariusNETSectra snags U.S. distributorFonar scores in GermanyEpix appoints interim CEOVital Images installs new execsDaiichi, GE strike agreementKereos bags $19.5 million financingMerge eMed marketing initiative pays offSonoSite signs veterinary distributor

Thyroid nodules with dominant central vascularization have a greater chance of being malignant. The vascularization of thyroid nodules can be a complementary criterion in indication of the nodule for fine-needle aspiration, according to studies presented at the 2005 European Congress of Radiology meeting.

Merge eMed unveils fetal 3D packageTwo-D fetal images can be reconstructed in 3D using a plug-in package developed by Cedara Software. The product, called Baby Explorer, is being marketed by Cedara’s parent company, Merge eMed. It runs on a standard PC, supports multiple image types, and exports images that can be printed on standard printers or saved on CD-ROMs.

July saw just one more FDA clearance (24) than the previous month, but the number of sophisticated submissions took a sharp turn to the north. Devices in image management and CT promise interesting twists on established offerings, while others in nuclear medicine, ultrasound, and x-ray indicate expansions of some vendors’ product lines.

China’s increasing demand for modern healthcare innovations has given a welcome boost to the makers of medical imaging equipment. With no sign of a slowdown in growth, it is little wonder that Siemens Medical Solutions is ramping up its investment in this market.

Much has happened in the year since the FDA approved the first MR-guided ultrasound device for the treatment of uterine fibroids. The pioneers of this new product area, InSightec and its imaging partner GE Healthcare, have launched initiatives to find other clinical applications. One is a pivotal trial of ExAblate 2000 for the treatment of breast fibroadenomas. Another combines two feasibility studies of the safety and efficacy of the device for ablating breast cancers and eliminating brain tumors through an intact skull.

Usually, the beginnings of great change are recognized only in hindsight. The exception to that rule may have happened Aug. 24. This was the day the developers of Cell Broadband Engine Architecture -- known informally as Cell -- flung wide the doors to the technical underpinnings of this new computing chip.

Usually, the beginnings of great change are recognized only in hindsight. The exception to that rule may have happened Aug. 24. This was the day the developers of Cell Broadband Engine Architecture -- known informally as Cell -- flung wide the doors to the technical underpinnings of this new computing chip.

Researchers in Iowa have received a $350,000 grant to assess the application of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for the treatment of brain tumors, according to a press release by Iowa State University.

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine has updated its policy on fetal ultrasound studies performed without medical indications. Though the revised statement still targets keepsake imaging entrepreneurs, the new language looks at potential ethical violations by accredited ultrasound practitioners as well, according to AIUM officials.

Controversial new data questioning prostate-specific antigen screening could lead to a surge in 3D ultrasound imaging until more accurate serum markers appear. Three-D has shown prominent gains in diagnosis, staging, and management of prostate cancer, according to recent studies.

Stentor merges with PhilipsOne month after Philips Medical Systems announced its intention to buy Stentor, the Dutch company has completed the acquisition. The merger will strengthen Philips’ position as a primary supplier of healthcare IT. Philips previously had depended on Swedish IT specialist Sectra for its PACS and workstation products (DI SCAN 7/18/05). In announcing the acquisition, Philips claimed record quarterly revenue for Stentor over the past three months, highlighting 14 new customer contracts, including a seven-year contract renewal from Henry Ford Health System.

Efforts by the imaging industry to clear radiological devices have slipped into a narrow corridor of moderate success, as companies in June scored just 23 FDA clearances, two more than the previous month and one more than April. The pace of clearances now has drifted far below the level that led to last year’s record number of cleared products, which saw April 2004 with 36, May with 26, and June with 38.

While both multislice CT and endoscopic ultrasound can evaluate the local extension of esophageal tumors, CT can also image distant metastases in the lymph nodes, lungs, and liver with a single exam, providing superior staging of T3 and T4 cancers, according to a study from Austria presented at the 2005 European Congress of Radiology. CT is not without weaknesses, however.

Manufacturers and industry report a decline in the ultrasound market last year in the U.S. The market was down in 2004 about 7% to $950 million in equipment shipments, according to consolidated industry estimates. This decline came on the heels of a record year in 2003, during which vendors shipped equipment valued at just over $1 billion to U.S. customers. Backlogs for new units and upgrades from 2004 outdistanced sales by about 4%, indicating strength going into 2005.

An estimated 11.5 million echocardiography procedures were performed in 2004 at more than 3000 sites in the U.S., a 5% increase over 2002, according to a study conducted by IMV Medical Information Division.

Toshiba launches MR techniqueMR angiography can be accomplished without the injection of contrast media, using a technique now available from Toshiba America Medical Systems. Contrast Improved Angiography (CIA) visualizes smaller vessels with greater contrast and better separation of arterial and venous blood flows, according to the company. CIA is built on a fresh blood imaging technology that Toshiba developed seven years ago. The new technique runs on Toshiba’s Excelart Vantage system.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in June celebrated its 250,000th certification. The ARRT might reach the half-million mark sooner than expected as it gears up to allow MRI techs and sonographers to be certified without first becoming radiologic technologists.

Mobile phones outfitted with microcameras could relay more than pics and flicks. These portable devices could also broadcast ultrasound images, according to a poster presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in June.

Although ultrasound contrast agents are not yet FDA-approved for use beyond the heart, they are already helping inspire careers in academic radiology.

Medical students may not need to wait for a residency or fellowship to gain experience with ultrasound. They could become familiar with the modality long before graduation, according to a study presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine meeting in June.