Diagnostic Imaging North America

OCTOBER 2006

COVER STORY

By: John C. Hayes

• Utilization Management: Exec panel reveals keys to the system
  Diagnostic Imaging roundtable tackles rationales and realities of efforts to rein in imaging use in radiology

DEPARTMENTS

X-RAY VISION

Thomas W. Greeson, J.D.

Utilization management firms grow big business to little practical effect

AGENDA

John C. Hayes

Like systole and diastole, interest in cardiac imaging throbs away

Overread

• SNM's new name illustrates rise of molecular imaging
• Nuclear medicine experts dominate national panel
• Technology gains outpace standards methodology
• In politics, brain shows true colors
• Biliary stent undergoes study for PVD applications
• MRI offers integral view of articular cartilage repair

Newsclips

• Ablation, radiotherapy boost lung cancer patients' survival
• Chest x-rays may increase likelihood of breast cancer
• PET shows evolution of human language
• Carotid stenting offers safe option in the elderly
• Scorpion venom helps treat brain tumors

Mailbox

• CT colonography promotion belies gold standard preference of imagers
• Headline misstates source of economic woes in imaging
• Industry needs to address root causes of excessive radiation exposure

Tech Watch

• Breast CT scanner readies for RSNA meeting debut

Cardiovascular

By: Ramdas G. Pai, M.D., Padmini Varadarajan, M.D., and Gerald M. Pohost, M.D.

• Echocardiography confronts era of cardiac CT and MRI

Business Outlook

By: Greg Freiherr

• Imaging strategists ply industry with new ideas

Imaging Practice

By: James Brice

• Neurorads pinpoint extent of traumatic brain injuries

Back Scatter

By: Bradley M. Tipler, M.D.

• Insurers can set your head to spinning fast

Special Sections: Cardiovascular Imaging

• Dual-source CT advances coronary angiography
• Prospectively gated CTA dramatically reduces dose

Special Sections

CTA Training

By: Tony DeFrance, M.D.

• Turf talk obscures CTA's potential as team builder
• Cardiac CT angiography training picks up steam

Women's Imaging

By: C.P. Kaiser

• Women's heart centers bring forth fresh perspectives