University of Utah Health Care Opens First Integrated EP MRI Lab in North America

SALT LAKE CITY (May 1, 2009) — University of Utah Health Care today celebrated the opening of the first integrated electrophysiology (EP) MRI laboratory in North America. Located on the fourth floor of University Hospital, the lab will accelerate the work of University physicians and researchers in diagnosing and treating atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart rhythm disorder affecting more than 3.5 million Americans and causing more than 66,000 deaths each year. University Health Care administrators, physicians, and staff joined with AF patients, donors, and Siemens executives for a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the lab.

The new lab is a multi-disciplinary partnership between University Hospital, the University’s Division of Cardiology, Department of Radiology, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, and the Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research (UCAIR). It features an 18,000-pound MAGNETOM 3T Verio from Siemens, which offers some of the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services clinically available. The MRI’s three-dimensional imaging provides greater resolution of the heart tissue than the two-dimensional images typically used, giving physicians a more precise and powerful tool for diagnosis and treatment.

source: University of Utah Healthcare

Siemens Marks First U.S. Installation of SOMATOM Definition Flash CT System

Malvern, Pa., April 27, 2009 – Highlighting lowest dose and fastest speed, Siemens Healthcare (www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare) announces Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., as the first medical facility in the United States to offer patients the innovations of the SOMATOM® Definition Flash dual-source computed tomography (CT) scanner. The SOMATOM Definition Flash requires only a fraction of the radiation dose that systems previously required to scan even the tiniest anatomical details. The fastest scanning speed in CT (i.e., 43 cm/s) and a temporal resolution of 75 ms enable complete scans of the entire chest region in just 0.6 seconds. Thus, clinicians now have the option of not requiring their patients to hold their breath during the exam.

”Interdisciplinary teamwork at Mayo, combined with industry collaborations like this, continues to support our hallmark mission of extraordinary patient care at Mayo. This second generation dual-source CT scanner offers new applications that can benefit our patients while minimizing risks,” said J.G. Fletcher, M.D., Mayo Clinic. “Reduced radiation dose and scanning speed provide new opportunities for routine use of dual energy CT. This technique helps to highlight pathologies, giving Mayo an additional tool in patient diagnosis and treatment.”

source: Siemens Healthcare

CT Scans Increase Cancer Risk Estimates in Multiply-Imaged Emergency Department Patients

Physicians should review a patient’s CT imaging history and cumulative radiation dose when considering whether to perform another CT exam, according to researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.

The study included 130 patients who had at least three emergency department visits within one year in which they had a CT scan of the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis. “We gathered the recent CT exam histories for each of these patients and found that half had undergone ten or more CT scans in the previous eight years, up to a maximum of 70 CT scans,” said Aaron Sodickson, MD, PhD. “Using typical dose values and standard risk estimation methods, we calculated that half of our group had accrued additional radiation-induced cancer risks above baseline greater than 1 in 110, up to a maximum of 1 in 17.”

“A patient’s cumulative risk of radiation-induced cancers is believed to increase with increasing cumulative radiation dose. The level of risk is further increased for patients scanned at young ages and is in general greater for women than for men. There is no absolute threshold, however, and the potential risks of radiation induced cancer must be balanced against the expected clinical benefits of the CT scan for the patient’s particular scenario,” he said.

source: ARRS

Using PET/CT Imaging, UCLA Cancer Researchers Can Tell After A Single Cycle Of Chemotherapy Whether Drugs Are Working

Oncologists often have to wait months before they can determine whether a treatment is working. Now, using a non-invasive method, researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have shown that they can determine after a single cycle of chemotherapy whether the toxic drugs are killing the cancer or not.

Using a combination Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scanner, researchers monitored 50 patients undergoing treatment for high-grade soft tissue sarcomas. The patients were receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatments to shrink their tumors prior to surgery. The study found that response could be determined about a week after the first dose of chemotherapy drugs. Typically, patients are scanned at about three months into chemotherapy to determine whether the treatment is working.

source: Medical News Today

Medicare Expands Coverage Of PET Scans As Cancer Diagnostic Tool

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final national coverage determination (NCD) to expand coverage for initial testing with positron emission tomography (PET) for Medicare beneficiaries who are diagnosed with and treated for most solid tumor cancers.This NCD removes a clinical study requirement for PET scan use in these patients.

Since 2005, Medicare coverage of PET scans for diagnosing some forms of cancer and guiding treatment has been tied to a requirement that providers collect clinical information about how the scans have affected doctors' treatment decisions. This information was gathered through the National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR) observational study. This decision removes the requirement to report data to the NOPR when the PET scan is used to support initial treatment (or diagnosis and "staging") of most solid tumor cancers.

source: Medical News Today

Radiation Dose Can Be Reduced For “Triple Rule-Out” Coronary CT Angiography

Physicians can dramatically reduce the radiation dose delivered to patients undergoing coronary CT angiography in a “triple rule-out” protocol by simply using tube current modulation, according to a study performed at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

The study included 172 patients who were evaluated using coronary CT angiography without tube current modulation and 95 patients who were evaluated with tube current modulation. The effective radiation dose ranged between 9.9 and 31.3 mSv in patients without modulation; the dose ranged between 5.4 and 16.6 mSv in patients with modulation. “Image quality was comparable to when we didn’t use tube current modulation,” said Kevin M. Takakuwa, MD, lead author of the study.

“One of the major criticisms of the triple rule out coronary CT angiography study is the concern about the high amount of radiation given, which has been estimated by some to be as high as 30-40 mSv. Our study demonstrates that the radiation is a lot less, averaging less than 9 mSv when using tube current modulation. In addition, it uses less radiation than a nuclear stress test, a common alternative study to the triple rule-out cardiac CT,” he said.

source: ARRS

SNM Calls CMS PET Scan Decision a Major Benefit for Cancer Patients

Reston, Va.—SNM applauds today's decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand coverage of positron emission tomography (PET) scans in the initial treatment strategy of patients with cancer. This decision was based, in large part, on compelling clinical evidence of the effectiveness of PET for cancer management and treatment contained in a comprehensive study known as the National Oncologic PET Registry (NOPR).

"This is a major victory for patients," said Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D., M.B.A., president of SNM and University of New Mexico/Los Alamos National Laboratory professor of pharmacy. "CMS' decision to cover PET scans for cancer demonstrates the intrinsic medical value of PET and important role of these scans in diagnosing, staging, restaging and monitoring treatment for many cancers."

Previously, PET scans for many cancers would be reimbursed only if the PET facility submitted data to the NOPR. Now, all Medicare beneficiaries with certain cancers will be able to receive Medicare coverage for at least one PET scan, as prescribed by their physicians. The nine currently covered cancers— breast, cervix, colorectal, esophageal, head and neck, lymphoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung and thyroid—have all been expanded to cover the subsequent treatment strategy, in addition to initial diagnosis.

source: SNM

Radiologists Can Dramatically Lower Cardiac CT Radiation Dose in Some Patients

Radiologists can now lower the radiation dose delivered by cardiac CT angiography by 39% in adult patients weighing 185 pounds or less, according to a study performed at the University of Erlangen in Erlangen, Germany.

The study included one hundred patients, weighing 185 pounds or less, who underwent cardiac CT angiography either using a tube voltage of 120 kV or 100 kV. Results showed that the effective radiation dose for patients scanned with 120 kV ranged from 8.8 to 16.9 mSv; the effective radiation dose for patients scanned with 100 kV ranged from 4.9 to 11.9 mSv. “At the same time, the overall image quality was preserved. Image quality scores using 120 kV were 2.7 plus/minus 0.5; scores using 100 kV were 2.6 plus/minus 0.4,” said Tobias Pflederer, MD, lead author of the study.

“Coronary CT angiography has tremendously high accuracy for detecting and ruling out coronary artery stenosis. It is expected that indications for coronary CT angiography will grow in the future,” he said.

“The standard coronary CT angiography protocol uses the higher tube voltage value of 120 kV however our study shows that 100 kV can be used instead. It is important to keep the radiation dose as low as possible, especially in younger and female patients,” said Dr. Pflederer.

source: ARRS

CT Scans: Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be Risky

Patients who undergo numerous CT scans over their lifetime may be at increased risk for cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of Radiology.

"We found that while most patients accrue small cumulative cancer risks, 7 percent of the patients in our study had enough recurrent CT imaging to raise their estimated cancer risk by 1 percent or more above baseline levels," said Aaron Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D., assistant director of Emergency Radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and researcher at the Center for Evidence-Based Imaging in Boston. "The techniques implemented in our study can be used to identify higher risk patients who might benefit from enhanced radiation protection efforts."

CT has proven to be a valuable clinical tool, and its use has grown rapidly. According to a 2008 IMV Medical Information Division report, approximately 68.7 million CT exams were performed in the U.S. in 2007, up from 62 million in 2006. CT provides detailed images of internal organs and is a common technique used to make medical diagnoses and help guide medical treatment decisions. However, CT uses a higher radiation dose than most other imaging exams.

source: Medical News Today

Transforming medical diagnosis with new scanning technology

A new technology which dramatically improves the sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance techniques including those used in hospital scanners and chemistry laboratories has been developed by scientists at the University of York.

Ultimately, the technique, based on manipulating parahydrogen, the fuel of the space shuttle, is expected to allow doctors to learn far more about a patient’s condition from an MRI scan at lower cost while increasing the range of medical conditions that can be examined.

The research is published today in the latest edition of the journal Science.
"Our method has the potential to help doctors make faster and more accurate diagnoses in a wide range of medical conditions"
Professor Gary Green

Researchers have taken parahydrogen and, through a reversible interaction with a specially designed molecular scaffold, transferred its magnetism to a range of molecules. The resulting molecules are much more easily detected than was previously possible. No-one has been able to use parahydrogen in this way before.

Professor Gary Green, from the Department of Psychology and Director of the York Neuroimaging Centre, said: "Our method has the potential to help doctors make faster and more accurate diagnoses in a wide range of medical conditions.

source: University of York

Siemens Demonstrates Flash Speed, Lowest Dose at ACC 2009

Orlando, Fla., March 26, 2009 – Siemens Healthcare (www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare) demonstrates the fastest speed and lowest dose for cardiac applications with the SOMATOM® Definition Flash dual source computed tomography (CT) scanner at the 58th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) from March 29-31 in Orlando, Fla., at booth #1842. Siemens CT covers the entire spectrum of cardiology, from early detection to acute care through follow-up.

“The SOMATOM Definition Flash requires only a fraction of the radiation dose that systems previously required to scan even the tiniest anatomical details faster than ever before,” said Kulin Hemani, vice president, CT, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. “Scanning the thorax, including the heart, can be done in only 0.6 seconds, taking the burden of breath-holding off the patient and allowing functional imaging for body regions up to 48 cm.”

source: Siemens Medical

Increasing Use Of CT On Pregnant Women Tracked By Study

Researchers have found that over a 10-year period radiologic exams on pregnant women have more than doubled, according to a study published in the online edition of Radiology.

"Imaging utilization has not been previously studied in the pregnant population," said Elizabeth Lazarus, M.D., assistant professor of diagnostic imaging at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University and a radiologist at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I. "This population may be vulnerable to the adverse effects of radiation."

Dr. Lazarus and colleagues conducted a retrospective review of nuclear medicine, CT, fluoroscopy and plain-film x-ray imaging examinations performed at Rhode Island Hospital and Women and Infants' Hospital from 1997 through 2006 to determine how often these imaging exams were performed on pregnant women and the estimated radiation dose to the fetus. Data were then compared to the number of infant deliveries per year for that same time period.

source: EurekAlert

New KODAK 9500 Cone Beam 3D System Redefines CT Design, Ease-of-Use

VIENNA, March 6 — The KODAK 9500 Cone Beam 3D System was introduced by Carestream Health, Inc., for easy-to-use three-dimensional imaging of cranio-maxillofacial anatomy. Built on the proven and reliable KODAK 9000 platform, the KODAK 9500 3D System enables users to quickly produce magnificent 3D images, ranging from dual jaw to full craniofacial images, more affordably and at a lower dose than traditional medical CT systems.

The KODAK 9500 3D System is well suited for radiology facilities providing cranio-maxillofacial imaging services to dental professionals and medical specialists. With high-quality, anatomically-correct 3D images down to 0.2 mm voxel (VOlume piXEL) size, users are able to leverage the incredible image detail of 3D to provide more accurate diagnoses, improved treatment planning and more efficient patient care.

Image output occurs in DICOM formats, supporting flexible output options including customizable report templates, PACS and medical printer connections. The 3D volumes produced by the KODAK 9500 System can be exported to any other DICOM-compatible software.

source: Carestream Health

Siemens Combines Vision and Value with 16-Slice Biograph TruePoint PET•CT System

State-of-the-art design offers affordable access to high-quality imaging

Hoffman Estates, Ill., March 6, 2009 – Siemens expands is imaging portfolio with the addition of the Biograph® TruePoint 16-slice PET•CT* imager. The Biograph TruePoint PET•CT imaging family is the first portfolio of imaging systems to include High-Definition PET•CT and now expands its offering with 16-slice CT capabilities. The Biograph TruePoint 16-slice PET•CT will be highlighted this week at the European Congress of Radiology, March 6-10, in Vienna, Austria.

”The introduction of this particular system is critical as we continue to search for the balance between innovation and access. The likelihood that universal adoption of PET•CT technology will increase with accessibility is a shared industry vision. As an industry leader, it is our responsibility to make that vision more readily attainable,” said Michael Reitermann, CEO, Molecular Imaging, Siemens Healthcare. “The Biograph TruePoint 16-slice PET•CT is a means to achieve that end, with high performance technology housed in an economical package.”

source: Siemens Healthcare

FDA Warns About Risk of Wearing Medicated Patches During MRIs

Certain adhesive patches that deliver medication through the skin have been found to be a risk to patient safety. The patches, if worn while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging scans or MRIs, can cause skin burns, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today.

The patches of concern include both brand name and generic products and patches purchased over the counter without a prescription.

The FDA issued the Public Health Advisory on transdermal drug patches after learning that a warning was missing on some patches that contain aluminum or other metals in their non-adhesive backing. The backing is the portion of the patch not in direct contact with the skin. While not attracted to the magnetic field of the MRI, the metal can conduct electricity, generating heat which can cause burns. Users of the patches reported receiving skin burns at their patch site when wearing the patch during an MRI scan.

source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Neuisys Announces FDA Clearance of NeuViz 16 Multi-Slice CT System

GREENSBORO, N.C., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuisys Imaging System Solutions, LLC announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance of the NeuViz 16 Multi-Slice Computed Tomography (CT) System. The NeuViz 16 is developed by Philips Neusoft Medical Systems, a joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands and Neusoft Corporation of China.

"The NeuViz 16 is a state-of-the-art CT system that provides superior performance for the price and provides the clinical benefits of routine, sub-millimeter resolution, volume imaging and low-dose protocols," said Kim Russell, Neuisys president and chief executive officer. "The NeuViz 16 packs a tremendous amount of technology into a very economical footprint and is the perfect solution for diagnostic imaging centers and community hospitals that plan to upgrade from older single or multi-slice CT systems to 16-slice CT as well as a wide array of specialist physician groups considering in-office CT including urologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, surgeons, and oncologists."

source: PR Newswire

Demand pushes MRI wait up to a year (Canada)

LISA PRIEST

Waits for MRI scans in Ontario - used to diagnose multiple sclerosis, cancer, and chronic back pain - are startlingly long, with at least one hospital reporting a queue of almost one year.

The province's targeted waiting time for the lowest priority scan - such as those with chronic back or knee pain - is 28 days. But the waiting time is 100 days, which means 90 per cent of all patients receive their scan within that time period, with the remaining 10 per cent waiting longer.

The range in waits throughout the province is dramatic: At Bluewater Health in Sarnia, Ont., 90 per cent of patients had their scans done within 17 days. At The Ottawa Hospital, which has the longest waiting times, that number is 360.

This is according to data from October to December, 2008, the latest available.

source: Globe and Mail

MRI Accidents Report 270% Increase Over 4 Years. Available Solutions Must Be Deployed

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2008 saw a 30% increase in the number of reported MRI accidents. In the four years following 2004, the FDA's MAUDE database catalogues a 270% increase in MRI accidents. But what may be even more troubling than the dramatic increase in reported accidents are the numbers that aren't included in the FDA's data.

The extreme power of the magnets used for MRI imaging (typically tens-of-thousands of times greater than our exposure to the Earth's own magnetic field) can readily 'pull' ferromagnetic materials to the scanner, sometimes with lethal results. These types of accidents, frequently referred to as 'projectile' or 'missile' accidents, are the most common MRI mishap and yet comprise a slim minority of the FDA's accident reports.

source: Medical News Today

GE Healthcare Installs First Series of Breakthrough Molecular Imaging Scanners Globally

WAUKESHA, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), announced the global installation of the new DiscoveryTM PET/CT 600-series scanners, designed to help enable earlier detection and accurate monitoring of disease combined with the latest advancements in molecular imaging technology to explore the development of future applications. The first clinical installs will be completed at Miami Baptist Hospital in Florida, University Hospital of Bichat in Paris, France, Queensland X-Ray at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, and Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

“This first set of installations is a big step forward in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease,” said Terri Bresenham, newly appointed vice president and general manager of the company’s global Molecular Imaging business. “Partnering with clinics in the United States, Europe and the Asia/Pacific Region, we will be able to reach more patients globally with the latest advancements in oncology, neurology, and cardiovascular technologies.”

The new PET/CT platform, from GE Healthcare, was built for physicians and molecular imaging researchers in mind, based on their need for more power to explore the potential of PET/CT imaging that includes better PET quantitative accuracy. This new line of PET/CT scanners, combine advanced molecular imaging tools with the large coverage low dose Volume CT helping allow for earlier diagnosis, more accurate tumor location and better assessment of how a patient is responding to cancer treatment. Although mostly for use in oncology, PET/CT can also be used for assisting the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and neurological conditions.

source: BusinessWire

Toshiba Introduces the Aquilion Premium

TUSTIN, California — February 12, 2009 — Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announced the launch of the Aquilion® Premium CT system. The Aquilion Premium rounds out the company's CT portfolio to include a product with the capability to cover up to 8 cm in a single rotation. This system is also field-upgradeable to an Aquilion ONE.

"As part of our continued commitment to providing the right technology mix for the medical community, our customers have asked for a system that allows them to easily upgrade to the Aquilion ONE," said Doug Ryan, senior director, CT Business Unit. "Just as we developed upgrade paths with our Aquilion 8-detector row and 32-detector row products, we are providing the same consumer focused capability with the Aquilion Premium product."

Because the system is field-upgradeable to an Aquilion ONE, this product enables the medical community to have access to advanced technology today, while allowing physicians and administrators to plan for their future needs.

Shipments of Aquilion Premium will begin in the second quarter of 2009.

source: Toshiba

Medicare | CMS Announces Tentative Decision To End Medicare Coverage for Virtual Colonoscopies

CMS on Thursday 2/12/09 announced a tentative decision to end Medicare coverage for virtual colonoscopies, or CT colonographies, the New York Times reports. "Controversy has swirled for years" about whether virtual colonoscopies, which use X-ray images and computer software to create images of the colon, are as effective as traditional colonoscopies, which use a small camera that is passed through the colon, according to the Times.

According to a notice published on the CMS Web site, an analysis conducted by the agency found "insufficient evidence" to conclude that virtual colonoscopies "improve outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries." The analysis found that virtual colonoscopies are as effective as traditional colonoscopies in the detection of larger polyps but less effective in the detection of smaller polyps.

source: Kaisernetwork,org

MRI Gradient Artifact Removal for ECG and EMG

BIOPAC announces a new method to remove gradient artifact from physiological data recorded inside a functional MRI. The new technique allows researchers to record ECG, heart rate and R-R interval data from a subject while the MRI is taking images. The same technique also significantly improves the quality of EMG data.

The new techniques allow researchers to record physiological data from a subject in the MRI. The brain is scanned while the subject receives a combination of visual, auditory, somatosensory, and electrical stimulation. The stimulation activates different regions of the brain and allows researchers to image the brain while the brain responds to the stimuli. The physiological data, stimulation and MRI images are all highly synchronized. This allows researchers to compare physiological responses and images to precise stimuli.

BIOPAC has a range of MRI products to record almost every physiological signal from inside the scanner. A range of isolated and filtered MRI cables provide the conduit between the subject in the scanner and the MP150/MP100 data acquisition systems and amplifiers that are located in the control room. BIOPAC MRI-compatible electrodes and MRI-compatible transducers connect to the filter cables and the subject.

source: BIOPAC

MRI shows brain atrophy pattern that predicts Alzheimer's

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Using special MRI methods, researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer's disease. The findings are published in the online edition of Radiology.

"Previously, this pattern has been observed only after a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease," said the study's lead author, Linda K. McEvoy, Ph.D., assistant project scientist in the Department of Radiology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in La Jolla. "Our results show that some individuals with MCI have the atrophy pattern characteristic of mild Alzheimer's disease, and these people are at higher risk of experiencing a faster rate of brain degeneration and a faster decline to dementia than individuals with MCI who do not show that atrophy pattern."

According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than five million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease. One of the goals of modern neuroimaging is to help in early and accurate diagnosis, which can be challenging. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but when it is diagnosed early, drug treatment may help improve or stabilize patient symptoms.

source: Eurekalert

MEDRAD Sponsors PET Research with University of Zurich

WARRENDALE, Pa., January 6, 2009 – MEDRAD, Inc., has signed a research agreement with the University of Zurich to study dynamic PET imaging with the MEDRAD Intego™ PET Infusion System. The researchers will utilize MEDRAD’s latest technology to more precisely control the radioactive dose delivered during PET imaging procedures.

Specifically, the study will examine patients with tumors in the chest or abdomen and compare standard quantitative techniques, such as standard uptake value (SUV), with more advanced kinetic and compartmental models. One of the primary goals of the research is to explore how controlled delivery technology can enable dynamic imaging by providing additional clinical utility and making these advanced techniques more practical. By enabling the benefit of repeatable infusion of the prescribed FDG dose to all subjects in the study, the Intego System is a key element in the research.

source: MEDRAD

Use Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Improves Diagnosis Of Patients In Vegetative State

ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2009) — A study led by researchers from Catalonia analyses the importance of the use of magnetic resonance imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients in a vegetative state. Until now these tests have not been performed in this type of patient. The results show activation of the auditory and linguistic areas of the brain despite the absence of observable behavioural responses.

The aim of this study is “to analyse the response of the brain to language in a group of traumatised patients in a vegetative state or in a minimally responsive state”. The patients were examined using the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging”, explains Carme Junqué to SINC, who is the principal researcher of the project at the University of Barcelona (UB) in collaboration with the University Institute of Neurorehabilitation in Guttman.

source: Science Daily (press release)

CT Scans of the Heart Can Be Done with Low Radiation Dose

February 4, 2009 (updated) -- Physicians are able to perform high-quality CT angiograms of the heart with minimal radiation exposure, according to a study published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Using dose-reduction strategies, some centers included in this study, dubbed PROTECTION I, were able to perform a 64-slice CT angiogram with a measured radiation exposure of 2.1 mSv (millisieverts), equivalent to the level of normal annual background radiation encountered by a resident of New York City -- and they were able to do this without degradation of the image.

However, some of the 50 international centers in this study performed similar CT angiograms at ten times that level of radiation, 21 mSv, prompting the authors to conclude:

"Median doses of CCTA (Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography) differ significantly between study sites and CT systems. Effective strategies to reduce radiation dose are available but some strategies are not frequently used. The comparable diagnostic image quality may support an increased use of dose-saving strategies in adequately selected patients."

source: Angioplasty.org

MR Spectroscopy May Help Patients Avoid Invasive Procedures and Treatments for Recurrent Brain Lesions

A clinical decision model which uses MR spectroscopy to help physicians differentiate between recurrent tumors and changes in the brain tissue due to radiation treatments, may help patients avoid invasive procedures and treatments, according to a study performed at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI.

The study included 33 patients who had undergone radiation treatment for brain tumors and had MRI examinations that showed new lesions (either a recurrent tumor or radiation changes). Patients then underwent MR spectroscopy and ratios of three metabolites, choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) and n-acetylaspartate (NAA) were calculated. An ROC curve and prediction model was then created, which determined the post-test probability of a patient having a recurrent tumor. For the study, the final number of patients with recurrent tumors was 20 and those with post-radiation change were 13.

source: ARRS

Next Generation Diagnostic Tool May Transform Patient Outcomes

During the 12th Annual Scientific Sessions (January 29 to February 1, 2009) of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR), the world's major international society for cardiovascular imaging, the role of perfusion imaging in clinical decision making will be refined.

This technique allows measuring blood flow to the heart muscle with an unprecedented spatial resolution and without any ionizing radiation. Multicenter data has already suggested a superiority of this technique in comparison to methods now used on a routine basis. New data presented during the meeting further expands its role, suggesting that new techniques with faster imaging will further improve spatial resolution and enhance diagnostic accuracy.

source: Medical News Today