8.05.2009

PET Can Help Guide Treatment Decisions For A Common Pediatric Cancer

A new study published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that positron emission tomography (PET) is an important tool for depicting the extent of neuroblastoma in some patients, particularly for those in the early stages of the disease. Neuroblastoma accounts for six to ten percent of all childhood cancers in the United States and 15 percent of cancer deaths in children. Accurately identifying where in the body the disease is located and whether it is spreading is critical for choosing appropriate types of treatment, which can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and-in the most advanced cases-a combination of all of these treatments along with bone marrow transplant or investigational therapies.

In recent years, 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) has been the main functional imaging agent used to assess the disease. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging of neuroblastoma is increasing, but questions remain regarding when and in which patients FDG PET imaging is most useful.

source: Medical News Today

8.01.2009

First Accreditation Received For High-Field Extremity MRI

DANBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Northeast Radiology has received the first-in-the-nation American College of Radiology (ACR) Accreditation for its High-Field, Extremity, Open MRIs located in Danbury, Connecticut and Mount Kisco, New York. Both locations feature the MSK Extreme® MRI from ONI Medical Systems.

Dr. Howard Lee, President of Northeast Radiology, explains, “We worked closely with the ACR to meet the standards of excellence for Extremity, Open MRI. The MRI standards set by ACR are the most demanding in the field of radiology and we are proud to be the first practice to have received ACR accreditation for the High-Field, Extremity, Open MRI.”

When a patient needs an MRI for their knee, hand, wrist, elbow, foot, or ankle, they can relax in a reclining chair while placing only the body part needing imaging inside the scanner. The patient can read a book or listen to music. Parents or guardians appreciate that they can sit next to a child and interact while the child has a comfortable MRI.

“I have found that the High-Field, Extremity, Open MRI is especially suited for claustrophobic or pediatric patients,” explains Dr. Kei Doi, musculoskeletal radiologist for Northeast Radiology. “It is an extremely comfortable examination and the feedback we’ve received from our patients has been favorable.”

source: Business Wire