Spectral CT IDs heart plaque better than conventional
Researchers can for the first time visualize coronary artery plaques vulnerable to rupture using spectral CT, an innovation that will lead to better and earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, according to researchers.
Researchers can for the first time visualize coronary artery plaques vulnerable to rupture using spectral CT, an innovation that will lead to better and earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, according to researchers.
Ruptured atherosclerotic plaques are the cause of nearly 70% of heart attacks. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) gravitate to plaques vulnerable to rupture and remove them from the arterial wall. Researchers from Mount Sinai in New York inserted tiny gold particles into HDL and injected mice with them. Using a spectral CT scanner from Philips Medical Systems, the researchers were able to see the gold particles as the HDL targeted microphages, thus illuminating the location of the vulnerable plaques.
Conventional CT doesn’t provide enough contrast to differentiate types and density of tissue. Spectral CT shows the effect of gold particles while also distinguishing calcium deposits and contrast agents. Together, this information is used to identify stenoses, thus helping define both the severity of atherosclerosis and heart attack risk.
Can Abbreviated Breast MRI Have an Impact in Assessing Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response?
April 24th 2025New research presented at the Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) conference suggests that abbreviated MRI is comparable to full MRI in assessing pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The Reading Room Podcast: Current Perspectives on the Updated Appropriate Use Criteria for Brain PET
March 18th 2025In a new podcast, Satoshi Minoshima, M.D., Ph.D., and James Williams, Ph.D., share their insights on the recently updated appropriate use criteria for amyloid PET and tau PET in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Clarius Mobile Health Unveils Anterior Knee Feature for Handheld Ultrasound
April 23rd 2025The T-Mode Anterior Knee feature reportedly offers a combination of automated segmentation and real-time conversion of grayscale ultrasound images into color-coded visuals that bolster understanding for novice ultrasound users.
