Researchers have found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be sufficient for the routine surveillance of some great vessel (primary blood vessels [e.g., aorta and vena cavae]) stents that are commonly used to treat congenital heart defects (a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels that is present at birth) in children and young adults, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (http://www.ajronline.org). MRI is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.
"Computed tomography (CT) is regarded as the best method for follow-up of endovascular stents. However, there are concerns regarding the long-term health effects of ionizing radiation exposure," said Andrew M. Taylor, MD, lead author of the study. "Conventional angiography can be used to image stents; however, it is not suitable for routine surveillance because of the invasive nature of the procedure," said Taylor.
The study, performed at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, included three contemporary great vessel stent materials (nitinol, platinum-iridium and stainless steel) that were implanted into an aorta model and imaged with conventional angiography, ten different MRI sequences and CT. "Study results showed that the diagnostic accuracy of conventional angiography and CT was high for all stents and MRI visualization of the stent depended on the type of stent and the sequence used," said Taylor.
source: ARRS
9.10.2010
FDA Drug Safety Communication: New warnings for using gadolinium-based contrast agents in patients with kidney dysfunction
[09-09-2010] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring changes in the drug label for gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to minimize the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare, but serious, condition associated with the use of GBCAs in certain patients with kidney dysfunction. GBCAs are intravenous drugs used in diagnostic imaging procedures to enhance the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). (See Approved Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents below).
These label changes are intended to help ensure these drugs are used appropriately, and that patients at risk for NSF who receive GBCAs are actively monitored for the development of NSF. Symptoms of NSF include scaling, hardening and tightening of the skin; red or dark patches on the skin; and stiffness. NSF can also cause fibrosis of internal organs which may lead to death. There is no effective treatment for NSF.
NSF has not been reported in patients with normal kidney function. Patients at greatest risk for developing NSF after receiving GBCAs are those with impaired elimination of the drug, including patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic, severe kidney disease (with a glomerular filtration rate or GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2). Higher than recommended doses or repeat doses of GBCAs also appear to increase the risk for NSF.
source: FDA
These label changes are intended to help ensure these drugs are used appropriately, and that patients at risk for NSF who receive GBCAs are actively monitored for the development of NSF. Symptoms of NSF include scaling, hardening and tightening of the skin; red or dark patches on the skin; and stiffness. NSF can also cause fibrosis of internal organs which may lead to death. There is no effective treatment for NSF.
NSF has not been reported in patients with normal kidney function. Patients at greatest risk for developing NSF after receiving GBCAs are those with impaired elimination of the drug, including patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic, severe kidney disease (with a glomerular filtration rate or GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2). Higher than recommended doses or repeat doses of GBCAs also appear to increase the risk for NSF.
source: FDA
8.31.2010
Toshiba Installs 1,000th MR System Worldwide
TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 30, 2010 – Diagnostic imaging leader Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has installed its 1,000th MR system worldwide. Kosair Children’s Medical Center – Brownsboro, the only pediatric outpatient facility of its type in Kentucky, is the site of Toshiba’s milestone installation. The new facility, dedicated to the care of children, is located in the eastern suburbs of Louisville, Ky., and is the newest addition to Kosair Children’s Hospital and the Norton Healthcare Network.
As one of the only pediatric outpatient centers in the Kentucky area, Kosair Children’s Medical Center – Brownsboro will use the Toshiba Vantage Atlas® MR for general radiology imaging, including both cardiac and neuro imaging, for its pediatric population. The Vantage Atlas MR is an ideal system for a pediatric facility because it offers several patient-friendly features, including Toshiba’s patented PianissimoTM technology, which reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent. Reducing exam noise creates a more comfortable exam experience and improves patient compliance by helping children relax and stay still during the MR exam process, which can also reduce the need for patient sedation.
“We selected the Vantage Atlas because it offers a quiet, quick and safe exam, which is what’s needed in a pediatric setting,” said Dr. Jeff Foster, director of Radiology, Kosair Children’s Hospital. “Additionally, the Vantage Atlas improves patient care by offering a strong, fast magnet that provides outstanding image quality. Receiving high-quality images allows us to diagnose a patient and develop a treatment plan quickly, which is critical for providing the best care to our patients.”
source: Toshiba Medical
As one of the only pediatric outpatient centers in the Kentucky area, Kosair Children’s Medical Center – Brownsboro will use the Toshiba Vantage Atlas® MR for general radiology imaging, including both cardiac and neuro imaging, for its pediatric population. The Vantage Atlas MR is an ideal system for a pediatric facility because it offers several patient-friendly features, including Toshiba’s patented PianissimoTM technology, which reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent. Reducing exam noise creates a more comfortable exam experience and improves patient compliance by helping children relax and stay still during the MR exam process, which can also reduce the need for patient sedation.
“We selected the Vantage Atlas because it offers a quiet, quick and safe exam, which is what’s needed in a pediatric setting,” said Dr. Jeff Foster, director of Radiology, Kosair Children’s Hospital. “Additionally, the Vantage Atlas improves patient care by offering a strong, fast magnet that provides outstanding image quality. Receiving high-quality images allows us to diagnose a patient and develop a treatment plan quickly, which is critical for providing the best care to our patients.”
source: Toshiba Medical
8.30.2010
Whole-Body MRI May Help Detect Suspected Child Abuse
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is highly accurate at detecting soft-tissue abnormalities, may serve a role in detecting suspected child abuse in infants, according to a study in the September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org). Whole-body MRI does not use ionizing radiation, but employs a magnetic field, radio frequency pulses, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs, soft tissues, bone, and virtually all other internal body structures.
The diagnosis of abuse relies heavily on the presence of skeletal injuries, and high-quality skeletal surveys (a series of X-rays of all the bones in the body) are recommended to visualize the often subtle high-specificity fractures seen in infant abuse. Bruises are the most common sign of physical abuse, but subcutaneous tissue and muscle injuries are not currently evaluated with a global imaging technique in living children.
The study, performed at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, included 21 infants who underwent whole-body MRI for the evaluation of suspected child abuse. Summary skeletal survey and whole-body MRI identified 167 fractures or areas of skeletal signal abnormality. “Although our study results revealed that whole-body MRI is insensitive in the detection of classic metaphyseal lesions and rib fractures, we found it did identify soft-tissue injuries such as muscle edema and joint effusions that, in some cases, led to identifying additional fractures,” said Jeannette M. Perez-Rossello, MD, lead author of the study.
source: American Roetgen Ray Society
The diagnosis of abuse relies heavily on the presence of skeletal injuries, and high-quality skeletal surveys (a series of X-rays of all the bones in the body) are recommended to visualize the often subtle high-specificity fractures seen in infant abuse. Bruises are the most common sign of physical abuse, but subcutaneous tissue and muscle injuries are not currently evaluated with a global imaging technique in living children.
The study, performed at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, included 21 infants who underwent whole-body MRI for the evaluation of suspected child abuse. Summary skeletal survey and whole-body MRI identified 167 fractures or areas of skeletal signal abnormality. “Although our study results revealed that whole-body MRI is insensitive in the detection of classic metaphyseal lesions and rib fractures, we found it did identify soft-tissue injuries such as muscle edema and joint effusions that, in some cases, led to identifying additional fractures,” said Jeannette M. Perez-Rossello, MD, lead author of the study.
source: American Roetgen Ray Society
8.20.2010
ASIR Technique Significantly Reduces Radiation Dose Associated With Abdominal CT Scans
A new low-dose abdominal computed tomography (CT) technique called adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) can reduce the radiation dose associated with abdominal CT scans by 23-66 percent, according to a study in the September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org). Abdominal CT scans are typically used to help diagnose the cause of abdominal or pelvic pain and diseases of the internal organs, bowel, and colon.
ASIR is a technique that allows radiologists to reduce the noise in an image and improve image quality (like adjusting a TV antenna to make a “fuzzy” image sharper) while reducing the radiation dose.
The study, performed at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, included 53 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal low-dose CT with 40 percent ASIR. All 53 patients had previously undergone contrast-enhanced routine-dose CT with filtered back projection (FBP). The average dose reduction using the ASIR technique (compared to routine-dose CT with FBP) was 66 percent for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 and 23 percent for patients with a BMI of 25 or greater. “A significant difference,” said Amy K. Hara, MD, lead author of the study.
source: ARRS
ASIR is a technique that allows radiologists to reduce the noise in an image and improve image quality (like adjusting a TV antenna to make a “fuzzy” image sharper) while reducing the radiation dose.
The study, performed at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, included 53 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal low-dose CT with 40 percent ASIR. All 53 patients had previously undergone contrast-enhanced routine-dose CT with filtered back projection (FBP). The average dose reduction using the ASIR technique (compared to routine-dose CT with FBP) was 66 percent for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 and 23 percent for patients with a BMI of 25 or greater. “A significant difference,” said Amy K. Hara, MD, lead author of the study.
source: ARRS
8.18.2010
Frost & Sullivan Honors Siemens for Leadership in CT Technology
Malvern, Pa., August 10, 2010 – Global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan has awarded Siemens Healthcare the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Leadership of the Year in the Computed Tomography (CT) imaging market. The award was based on industry analysis and cited Siemens’ long history in dose reduction solutions, the company’s ongoing commitment to research and development (R&D) in this area, as well as its focus on adding long-term value to its customers’ investments in the company’s CT products.
“Siemens has long been proactive in addressing dose challenges in CT, and because of the company’s foresightedness, initiative, and heavy investments in this area, Siemens is recognized as one of the leaders in the development of dose reduction technologies for CT,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Roberto Aranibar.
Frost & Sullivan noted that while all major CT equipment manufacturers have recently began introducing new dose reduction technologies, “Siemens Healthcare has differentiated itself through its consistent contributions of dose reduction technologies for CT since the early 1990s.”
source: Siemens Medical
“Siemens has long been proactive in addressing dose challenges in CT, and because of the company’s foresightedness, initiative, and heavy investments in this area, Siemens is recognized as one of the leaders in the development of dose reduction technologies for CT,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Roberto Aranibar.
Frost & Sullivan noted that while all major CT equipment manufacturers have recently began introducing new dose reduction technologies, “Siemens Healthcare has differentiated itself through its consistent contributions of dose reduction technologies for CT since the early 1990s.”
source: Siemens Medical
8.14.2010
Rutgers Researchers Assess Severity of Prostate Cancers Using Non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers researchers are developing methods that can accurately assess the severity of prostate cancer by analyzing magnetic resonance images and spectra of a patient’s prostate gland. This may help physicians decide more confidently which patients need aggressive treatment and which are better served by “watchful waiting,” and could even postpone or eliminate invasive biopsies in patients with low-grade tumors.
In a presentation next month at the world’s premier medical image analysis conference, Rutgers biomedical engineers will report that they achieved over 90% accuracy in distinguishing low-grade from high-grade prostate cancers by running computer analyses of the images and spectra made on 19 patients in an early research study.
“The breakthrough we’ve had in the last few months is that we see image signatures that distinguish aggressive cancers from less aggressive ones,” said Anant Madabhushi, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Rutgers and a member of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ).
These studies build on earlier research at Rutgers and elsewhere to identify prostate cancer using powerful, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology.
“Now we’re getting beyond merely identifying whether a person has cancer or not,” he said. “This could lead to better patient management and cost savings.”
source: Rutgers University
In a presentation next month at the world’s premier medical image analysis conference, Rutgers biomedical engineers will report that they achieved over 90% accuracy in distinguishing low-grade from high-grade prostate cancers by running computer analyses of the images and spectra made on 19 patients in an early research study.
“The breakthrough we’ve had in the last few months is that we see image signatures that distinguish aggressive cancers from less aggressive ones,” said Anant Madabhushi, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Rutgers and a member of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ).
These studies build on earlier research at Rutgers and elsewhere to identify prostate cancer using powerful, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology.
“Now we’re getting beyond merely identifying whether a person has cancer or not,” he said. “This could lead to better patient management and cost savings.”
source: Rutgers University
8.09.2010
Toshiba's Aquilion One Reduces Radiation Dose And Sedation
When pediatric patients are imaged using CT, reducing sedation and radiation dose while maintaining the best possible image quality is paramount in delivering care. To provide patients with high-quality CT exams and a reduction in sedation and radiation dose, leading children's hospitals are installing Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Aquilion® ONE 320-detector row CT system. Designed with the pediatric market in mind, the Aquilion ONE captures up to 16 cm in a single rotation of 0.35 seconds, decreasing the amount of radiation a patient receives and lessening the need for sedation.
With smaller vessels, lower bone density and less body fat, pediatric patients have different imaging needs than adults, creating the need for CT technology tailored for children. Traditionally, when children are imaged using multi-detector CT, sedation can be required to keep the patient still long enough to obtain a clear diagnostic image.
"Lowering radiation exposure is critical for pediatric patients, as they are more sensitive to radiation. It is especially important for pediatric patients with chronic conditions, as they could potentially undergo a lifetime of imaging exams," said Daniel Podberesky, M.D., chief of Thoracoabdominal Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
source: Toshiba Medical
With smaller vessels, lower bone density and less body fat, pediatric patients have different imaging needs than adults, creating the need for CT technology tailored for children. Traditionally, when children are imaged using multi-detector CT, sedation can be required to keep the patient still long enough to obtain a clear diagnostic image.
"Lowering radiation exposure is critical for pediatric patients, as they are more sensitive to radiation. It is especially important for pediatric patients with chronic conditions, as they could potentially undergo a lifetime of imaging exams," said Daniel Podberesky, M.D., chief of Thoracoabdominal Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
source: Toshiba Medical
8.06.2010
FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Gadovist® 1.0 Injection in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Berlin, August 4, 2010 – Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany, announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing a New Drug Application to the U.S. for gadobutrol injection, a gadolinium-based contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Gadovist® 1.0 (gadobutrol injection) is a macrocyclic, non-ionic gadolinium-based contrast agent formulated at a 1.0 molar concentration. The submission for gadobutrol injection in contrast enhanced MRI of the CNS (central nervous system) is supported by two adequate and well-controlled Phase III studies. The first Phase III study compared the efficacy of combined gadobutrol-enhanced images plus unenhanced images to unenhanced images alone. The second Phase III study used a crossover design with an active control, gadoteridol, to also compare the efficacy of the combined gadobutrol-enhanced plus unenhanced images to unenhanced images alone, as well as to confirm noninferiority of combined gadobutrol imaging versus combined gadoteridol imaging.
“If approved by the FDA, Gadovist 1.0 would complement our portfolio of contrast agents in the United States,” says Prof. Hans Maier, Head of the Diagnostic Imaging business unit at Bayer Schering Pharma in Berlin. “This submission to the FDA is an important milestone for us.”
source: Bayer
Gadovist® 1.0 (gadobutrol injection) is a macrocyclic, non-ionic gadolinium-based contrast agent formulated at a 1.0 molar concentration. The submission for gadobutrol injection in contrast enhanced MRI of the CNS (central nervous system) is supported by two adequate and well-controlled Phase III studies. The first Phase III study compared the efficacy of combined gadobutrol-enhanced images plus unenhanced images to unenhanced images alone. The second Phase III study used a crossover design with an active control, gadoteridol, to also compare the efficacy of the combined gadobutrol-enhanced plus unenhanced images to unenhanced images alone, as well as to confirm noninferiority of combined gadobutrol imaging versus combined gadoteridol imaging.
“If approved by the FDA, Gadovist 1.0 would complement our portfolio of contrast agents in the United States,” says Prof. Hans Maier, Head of the Diagnostic Imaging business unit at Bayer Schering Pharma in Berlin. “This submission to the FDA is an important milestone for us.”
source: Bayer
8.04.2010
Mayo Clinic Researchers Share Latest Findings in CT Radiation Dose Reduction Efforts
ROCHESTER, Minn. — In recent years, advances in CT scanner technology have made perfusion computed tomography (CT) imaging an important diagnostic tool for patients with suspected stroke. Now, researchers at Mayo Clinic are working to reduce radiation dosages used to acquire perfusion and other CT images. Mayo Clinic medical physicist Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D., and her group of researchers presented their findings related to CT dose reduction at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine on July 20 in Philadelphia. The presentation was entitled "20-Fold Dose Reduction Using a Gradient Adaptive Bilateral Filter: Demonstration Using in Vivo Animal Perfusion CT."
"We believe in the clinical value of perfusion CT, and though there is no documented risk of injury at the currently prescribed radiation levels, we are trying to lower the dose for the benefit of patients," says Dr. McCollough, diagnostic radiologist, Mayo Clinic.
The As Low As Reasonably Achievable, or ALARA, principle has always guided Mayo Clinic's approach to the dosages of radiation used to acquire CT images. Dr. McCollough's team has been experimenting with a newly created image-processing algorithm that produces high-quality perfusion CTs with up to 20 times less the radiation used under existing protocols.
source: Mayo Clinic
"We believe in the clinical value of perfusion CT, and though there is no documented risk of injury at the currently prescribed radiation levels, we are trying to lower the dose for the benefit of patients," says Dr. McCollough, diagnostic radiologist, Mayo Clinic.
The As Low As Reasonably Achievable, or ALARA, principle has always guided Mayo Clinic's approach to the dosages of radiation used to acquire CT images. Dr. McCollough's team has been experimenting with a newly created image-processing algorithm that produces high-quality perfusion CTs with up to 20 times less the radiation used under existing protocols.
source: Mayo Clinic
7.23.2010
CT scans might detect upper spine injuries
HOUSTON -- (July 22, 2010) -- In a study of original CT scans and records of patients who survived severe car accidents, were transferred alive to a Level 1 Trauma Center but subsequently died within 21 days of arrival, experts at Baylor College of Medicine found that 30 percent had injuries to the upper spine and surrounding area which might have been detectable by CT scans before they died. The report appears in The Spine Journal.
"Occipitocervical dissociative injuries are injuries that include any kind of severe injury that includes damage to the soft tissue connecting the vertebral segments of upper cervical spine," said Dr. Peleg Ben-Galim, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at BCM and one of the researchers involved in the study.
Cervical spine injuries are the most common injury associated with car accidents, and Ben-Galim and colleagues sought to find out how often such injuries took place in trauma patients and if doctors could have detected them before a patient died.
source: Baylor College of Medicine
"Occipitocervical dissociative injuries are injuries that include any kind of severe injury that includes damage to the soft tissue connecting the vertebral segments of upper cervical spine," said Dr. Peleg Ben-Galim, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at BCM and one of the researchers involved in the study.
Cervical spine injuries are the most common injury associated with car accidents, and Ben-Galim and colleagues sought to find out how often such injuries took place in trauma patients and if doctors could have detected them before a patient died.
source: Baylor College of Medicine
7.08.2010
Functional MRI may predict response of hepatocellular carcinoma to chemoembolization
Early knowledge of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is crucial for determining treatment success, timing of repeat treatment, and patient prognosis. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used 1-3 mo after treatment to evaluate anatomical tumor response, based upon changes in tumor size and contrast-agent enhancement. Alternatively, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used as a functional imaging technique to depict thermally induced motion of water molecules. The extent of water mobility within biological tissues can be quantified by a parameter called the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Recently, ADC values have been shown to change within days to weeks after therapy, which is earlier than changes seen by conventional HCC anatomical size assessment. However, no studies to date have reported the intra-procedural characteristics of ADC and whether these values can predict future tumor response at the time of chemoembolization.
A research article to be published on July 7, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Professor Reed A Omary, from Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure changes in tumor activity at the time of treatment, and compared them to tumor structural changes on conventional MRI at standard 1- and 3-mo follow-up periods.
Their results suggest that patients whose intra-procedural ADC values increase or decrease by > 15% are more likely to have a favorable anatomical tumor response 1 mo later.
source: EurekAlert
A research article to be published on July 7, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Professor Reed A Omary, from Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure changes in tumor activity at the time of treatment, and compared them to tumor structural changes on conventional MRI at standard 1- and 3-mo follow-up periods.
Their results suggest that patients whose intra-procedural ADC values increase or decrease by > 15% are more likely to have a favorable anatomical tumor response 1 mo later.
source: EurekAlert
7.07.2010
Medtronic Receives CE Mark for Ensura MRI(TM) SureScan(TM) Pacing System Approved for Use in MRI Machines as Labeled
MINNEAPOLIS, Jun 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Medtronic, Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!mdt/quotes/nls/mdt (MDT 36.68, +0.48, +1.33%) announced today the company received CE (Conformite Europeenne) Mark for Ensura MRI(TM) SureScan(TM) pacing system. Ensura MRI is the company's new option in the second-generation pacing system, available in select European geographies, in a portfolio of devices from Medtronic designed, tested, and approved for use as labeled with MRI machines. Patients with this new SureScan pacing system will have access to full body scans, without positioning restrictions in the MRI scanner. The Ensura MRI SureScan pacing system currently is not approved for sale in the United States.
"Half of the world's pacemaker implants are from Medtronic, and physicians say the number one unmet need is MRI compatibility," said Pat Mackin, president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business and senior vice president at Medtronic. "We are pleased to offer physicians a third option from the world's first portfolio of MR Conditional pacing systems with our exclusive technology for patients who may need access to the critical diagnostics available through MRI."
Approximately two million Europeans have implanted pacemakers; however, these patients are strongly discouraged from receiving MRI scans, a widely practiced diagnostic method for many common diseases and conditions, such as cancer, neurological disorders and orthopedic injuries. It is possible current pacing systems could interact with MRI machines, potentially affecting the device or patient safety.
source: Medtronic
"Half of the world's pacemaker implants are from Medtronic, and physicians say the number one unmet need is MRI compatibility," said Pat Mackin, president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business and senior vice president at Medtronic. "We are pleased to offer physicians a third option from the world's first portfolio of MR Conditional pacing systems with our exclusive technology for patients who may need access to the critical diagnostics available through MRI."
Approximately two million Europeans have implanted pacemakers; however, these patients are strongly discouraged from receiving MRI scans, a widely practiced diagnostic method for many common diseases and conditions, such as cancer, neurological disorders and orthopedic injuries. It is possible current pacing systems could interact with MRI machines, potentially affecting the device or patient safety.
source: Medtronic
7.01.2010
Siemens Launches SIERRA Dose Reduction Initiative in Computed Tomography
Malvern, Pa., June 29, 2010 – In a continual commitment to patient care and radiation reduction in computed tomography (CT), Siemens Healthcare has launched SIERRA (Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance) and has established an expert panel to advance the cause of dose reduction in CT. The new Low Dose Expert Panel includes 15 specialists in radiology, cardiology and physics, who are internationally recognized for their publications on the subject of CT dose. The panel’s objective is to generate proposals for how manufacturers may continue to develop their technology and to help users better adapt their procedures in order to bring about further dose reduction in CT. One of the most important suggestions from the first meeting of the Low Dose Expert Panel in May concerns methods to increase utilization in clinical practice of the many CT dose reduction technologies that are already available.
“Our aim as a leading innovator in the field of computed tomography is to reduce radiation exposure for all typical CT examinations below 2 mSv, which is as low as the average annual dose due to naturally occurring background radiation. We are committed to doing everything we can to help our customers reduce doses in CT without compromising the diagnostic quality of the examination in any way,” said Sami Atiya, PhD, CEO, Computed Tomography, Siemens Healthcare. “With this in mind, we want to work with experts to develop concrete proposals on dose reduction and, therefore, launched Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance, SIERRA.”
source: Siemens Medical
“Our aim as a leading innovator in the field of computed tomography is to reduce radiation exposure for all typical CT examinations below 2 mSv, which is as low as the average annual dose due to naturally occurring background radiation. We are committed to doing everything we can to help our customers reduce doses in CT without compromising the diagnostic quality of the examination in any way,” said Sami Atiya, PhD, CEO, Computed Tomography, Siemens Healthcare. “With this in mind, we want to work with experts to develop concrete proposals on dose reduction and, therefore, launched Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance, SIERRA.”
source: Siemens Medical
6.28.2010
Toshiba Announces Aegis Breast MR Imaging Workstation
Improving the ability to efficiently process MR images used for breast cancer analysis, the AegisTM breast imaging workstation is now available with Toshiba America Medical Systems' MR products. The Aegis workstation was developed with the distinct needs of radiologists and technologists in mind, offering flexibility and workflow efficiency.
The Aegis breast workstation offers powerful real-time 4D (3D + time) image processing, combining the speed and flexibility of a 3D visualization workstation with dedicated breast MRI algorithms, including kinetic curves and color maps and customizable reports. Powerful software and hardware technology provides the clinician with real-time interactive control of large dynamic datasets, as well as analysis driven by true, real-time 3D visualization of any dataset in any orientation. Combined with advanced hanging protocols, automated reporting, interventional accuracy, dynamic real-time processing and interventional guidance to multiple targets, the Aegis breast workstation is an industry leader in breast MR visualization and interventional guidance.
source: Toshiba Medical
The Aegis breast workstation offers powerful real-time 4D (3D + time) image processing, combining the speed and flexibility of a 3D visualization workstation with dedicated breast MRI algorithms, including kinetic curves and color maps and customizable reports. Powerful software and hardware technology provides the clinician with real-time interactive control of large dynamic datasets, as well as analysis driven by true, real-time 3D visualization of any dataset in any orientation. Combined with advanced hanging protocols, automated reporting, interventional accuracy, dynamic real-time processing and interventional guidance to multiple targets, the Aegis breast workstation is an industry leader in breast MR visualization and interventional guidance.
source: Toshiba Medical
6.23.2010
ASIR Technique Significantly Reduces Already Low Radiation Dose from CT Colonography
A newly adapted low-dose computed tomography (CT) technique called adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) can help radiologists reduce the already low radiation dose delivered during CT colonography (CTC) by another 50 percent, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org).
ASIR is a technique that allows radiologists to reduce the noise in an image and improve image quality (like adjusting a TV antenna to make a “fuzz” image sharper) while reducing the radiation dose to only one-quarter of that delivered by a typical abdominal CT scan.
“Despite the fact that the radiation dose delivered by CTC was already low and a lack of conclusive data regarding risk from medical radiation, radiologists strive to reduce dose at every opportunity,” said C. Daniel Johnson, MD, lead author of the study. “This new technique allows us to use far less radiation than even a typical abdominal CT scan without compromising image quality. CTC has been shown to be an effective front line screening tool for colorectal cancer. The fact that we can now screen patients with an increasingly lower dose can allay concerns, attract more patients to be screened and ultimately save tens of thousands of lives each year,” said Johnson.
source: ARRS
ASIR is a technique that allows radiologists to reduce the noise in an image and improve image quality (like adjusting a TV antenna to make a “fuzz” image sharper) while reducing the radiation dose to only one-quarter of that delivered by a typical abdominal CT scan.
“Despite the fact that the radiation dose delivered by CTC was already low and a lack of conclusive data regarding risk from medical radiation, radiologists strive to reduce dose at every opportunity,” said C. Daniel Johnson, MD, lead author of the study. “This new technique allows us to use far less radiation than even a typical abdominal CT scan without compromising image quality. CTC has been shown to be an effective front line screening tool for colorectal cancer. The fact that we can now screen patients with an increasingly lower dose can allay concerns, attract more patients to be screened and ultimately save tens of thousands of lives each year,” said Johnson.
source: ARRS
6.19.2010
UBC study offers ethical and cost-effective strategy for managing MRI incidental findings
The increasing number of incidental findings in brain imaging can be managed ethically and cost-effectively by screening study participants based on gender, age and family history, according to University of British Columbia researchers.
Incidental findings are anomalies discovered unexpectedly during research that utilizes brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain.
The UBC study, published online today the journal Value in Health, is the first economic analysis of current incidental finding management practices. More than 1,800 fMRI studies were published between 2002 and 2008.
Incidental findings that require clinical follow-up are detected in two to three percent of healthy participants in these studies. At an average of 10 participants per study, that is two to three percent of 18,000 volunteers.
Incidental findings that require clinical follow-up are detected in two to three percent of healthy participants in these studies. At an average of 10 participants per study, that is two to three percent of 18,000 volunteers.
Currently, protocols for handling incidental findings vary widely across institutions, ranging from costly, full clinical-grade imaging for all study participants before enrolment to “don’t look, don’t tell,” where brain images aren’t screened for anomalies.
source: University of British Columbia
Incidental findings are anomalies discovered unexpectedly during research that utilizes brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain.
The UBC study, published online today the journal Value in Health, is the first economic analysis of current incidental finding management practices. More than 1,800 fMRI studies were published between 2002 and 2008.
Incidental findings that require clinical follow-up are detected in two to three percent of healthy participants in these studies. At an average of 10 participants per study, that is two to three percent of 18,000 volunteers.
Incidental findings that require clinical follow-up are detected in two to three percent of healthy participants in these studies. At an average of 10 participants per study, that is two to three percent of 18,000 volunteers.
Currently, protocols for handling incidental findings vary widely across institutions, ranging from costly, full clinical-grade imaging for all study participants before enrolment to “don’t look, don’t tell,” where brain images aren’t screened for anomalies.
source: University of British Columbia
6.14.2010
Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. Presents Preliminary Data Comparing Novel Cardiac PET Imaging Agent With SPECT at SNM Annual Meeting
N. BILLERICA, Mass., Jun 07, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic medical imaging, today announced preliminary data from a single site participating in the multicenter Phase 2 clinical trial that showed that Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging with its novel investigational agent flurpiridaz F 18 injection (formerly known as BMS747158) provided better image quality than technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), the current standard for the non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). The data also indicated that PET imaging with flurpiridaz F 18 injection rendered a significantly larger perfusion defect size when compared with the corresponding defects seen in SPECT imaging. The data were featured today in an oral presentation (# 798032) by Balaji Tamarappoo, M.D., Clinical Fellow, Advanced Cardiac Imaging at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, at the SNM 57th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
"These encouraging preliminary data from our clinical research site show that PET imaging with flurpiridaz F 18 injection provided improved image quality and an increase in defect size compared to SPECT," said Daniel S. Berman, M.D., Chief, Cardiac Imaging and Nuclear Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "A PET imaging agent that may provide higher quality images with more obvious perfusion defects can have a profound effect on physicians' ability to make more definitive assessments of coronary artery disease."
source: MarketWatch
"These encouraging preliminary data from our clinical research site show that PET imaging with flurpiridaz F 18 injection provided improved image quality and an increase in defect size compared to SPECT," said Daniel S. Berman, M.D., Chief, Cardiac Imaging and Nuclear Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "A PET imaging agent that may provide higher quality images with more obvious perfusion defects can have a profound effect on physicians' ability to make more definitive assessments of coronary artery disease."
source: MarketWatch
6.07.2010
Siemens Celebrates 1000th MAGNETOM Espree MRI System
Malvern, Pa., June 3, 2010 – Siemens celebrates the milestone of the 1,000th MAGNETOM® Espree system sold worldwide with Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, which is ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the United States and is the largest teaching hospital in Missouri. This installation marks the third MAGNETOM Espree that the 1,259-bed hospital will employ to image patients of all sizes, ages and disabilities.
“We are extremely pleased with the Espree scanners,” says Dr. Vamsi Narra, a Washington University radiologist on staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “The wide bore configuration allows us to accommodate patients of all sizes, while providing top-notch imaging. More and more patients prefer the Espree to other standard-bore scanners.”
The 1.5 Tesla MAGNETOM Espree revolutionized the industry when it was introduced in 2004 as the world’s first Open Bore system. As a trailblazer in Open Bore technology, it combines the largest magnet bore – 70 cm – with the shortest magnet length – 125 cm cover to cover. This unique design provides 30 cm space above the patient’s face – twice that typically offered by vertical field open MRI systems. The very short length allows for 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient’s head outside of the bore. The expanded face space and head-out scanning has proven to increase patient acceptance.
source: Siemens Healthcare
“We are extremely pleased with the Espree scanners,” says Dr. Vamsi Narra, a Washington University radiologist on staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. “The wide bore configuration allows us to accommodate patients of all sizes, while providing top-notch imaging. More and more patients prefer the Espree to other standard-bore scanners.”
The 1.5 Tesla MAGNETOM Espree revolutionized the industry when it was introduced in 2004 as the world’s first Open Bore system. As a trailblazer in Open Bore technology, it combines the largest magnet bore – 70 cm – with the shortest magnet length – 125 cm cover to cover. This unique design provides 30 cm space above the patient’s face – twice that typically offered by vertical field open MRI systems. The very short length allows for 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient’s head outside of the bore. The expanded face space and head-out scanning has proven to increase patient acceptance.
source: Siemens Healthcare
6.02.2010
PET Scanning Probes Reveal Different Cell Function Within the Immune System
ScienceDaily (June 2, 2010) — A commonly used probe for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning and a new probe developed by researchers at UCLA reveal different functions in diverse cells of the immune system, providing a non-invasive and much clearer picture of an immune response in action.
The probes, the commonly used FDG that measures cellular glucose metabolism, and FAC, developed at UCLA and which measures the activity of a distinct biochemical pathway, work better when used in combination than either does alone. In addition to revealing the extent and cellular composition of an immune response, the probes also may be useful in evaluating therapies that target different cellular components of the immune system, said Dr. Owen Witte, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and senior author of the study.
"We demonstrated with this study that each probe targets different cells in the immune system with a high degree of specificity," said Witte, director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center and a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher.
source: Science Daily (Release)
The probes, the commonly used FDG that measures cellular glucose metabolism, and FAC, developed at UCLA and which measures the activity of a distinct biochemical pathway, work better when used in combination than either does alone. In addition to revealing the extent and cellular composition of an immune response, the probes also may be useful in evaluating therapies that target different cellular components of the immune system, said Dr. Owen Witte, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and senior author of the study.
"We demonstrated with this study that each probe targets different cells in the immune system with a high degree of specificity," said Witte, director of the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center and a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher.
source: Science Daily (Release)
5.27.2010
Toshiba's Large Open Bore Mr System Improves Workflow At Overlake Hospital
TUSTIN, Calif., May 26, 2010 – Improving MR exam workflow without sacrificing patient safety, exam comfort or image quality is a goal for many health care facilities. Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Wash., selected Toshiba America Medical Systems’ patient-friendly Vantage TitanTM ultra-short, open bore MR system to achieve this goal in its new MR facility.
Before acquiring the Titan, Overlake did not own an MR system and therefore was required to outsource all of its MR exams, a time-consuming and cumbersome experience for both the patient and physician. Since installing the Titan, Overlake patients receive MR exams immediately and on-site. In fact, the Titan’s ability to increase patient throughput because of its patient-friendly features enabled Overlake to exceed its patient volume projections shortly after installation.
“When planning our new MR department, we wanted to not only have around-the-clock access to MR exams and improve workflow, but also maintain Overlake’s focus on patient safety and comfort,” said Brenda Rinehart, director of Medical Imaging, Overlake Hospital. “The Titan’s features met and even exceeded these requirements. One example is the Titan’s large, open bore and noise reduction technology, which have improved the exam experience for our claustrophobic patients. This has resulted in a decrease in the need for sedation, allowing us to image patients more rapidly and safely.”
source: Toshiba Medical
Before acquiring the Titan, Overlake did not own an MR system and therefore was required to outsource all of its MR exams, a time-consuming and cumbersome experience for both the patient and physician. Since installing the Titan, Overlake patients receive MR exams immediately and on-site. In fact, the Titan’s ability to increase patient throughput because of its patient-friendly features enabled Overlake to exceed its patient volume projections shortly after installation.
“When planning our new MR department, we wanted to not only have around-the-clock access to MR exams and improve workflow, but also maintain Overlake’s focus on patient safety and comfort,” said Brenda Rinehart, director of Medical Imaging, Overlake Hospital. “The Titan’s features met and even exceeded these requirements. One example is the Titan’s large, open bore and noise reduction technology, which have improved the exam experience for our claustrophobic patients. This has resulted in a decrease in the need for sedation, allowing us to image patients more rapidly and safely.”
source: Toshiba Medical
5.26.2010
MRI Research Highlights High-risk Atherosclerotic Plaque Hidden in the Vessel Wall
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an animal model can non-invasively identify dangerous plaques. The findings, which appear in the May issue of Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging, offer possible applications in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis.
Rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which often occurs without prior symptoms, is responsible for a substantial number of deaths and disabilities worldwide. The untimely death of television journalist Tim Russert was caused by the sudden rupture of a vulnerable plaque in a critical location in a coronary artery. Identification of atherosclerotic plaques with a high risk for disruption and thrombosis would allow preventive therapy to be initiated before thrombi begin to clog arteries and cause stroke or heart attack.
The BUSM researchers examined diagnostic protocols in an animal (rabbit) model of human disease with procedures that never could have been applied to humans. Plaque disruption was stimulated at a precise time to allow MRI imaging before and after the rupture. According to researchers, plaques that were hidden within the vessel wall and pushing the vessel wall outward instead of occluding the lumen had a very high chance of forming a thrombus; plaques that caused vessel narrowing were almost always stable, which could explain why the most dangerous plaques generally escape detection by x-ray angiography. The study finds accurate, non-invasive MRI can identify these stable and unstable plaques.
source: Boston University School of Medicine
Rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which often occurs without prior symptoms, is responsible for a substantial number of deaths and disabilities worldwide. The untimely death of television journalist Tim Russert was caused by the sudden rupture of a vulnerable plaque in a critical location in a coronary artery. Identification of atherosclerotic plaques with a high risk for disruption and thrombosis would allow preventive therapy to be initiated before thrombi begin to clog arteries and cause stroke or heart attack.
The BUSM researchers examined diagnostic protocols in an animal (rabbit) model of human disease with procedures that never could have been applied to humans. Plaque disruption was stimulated at a precise time to allow MRI imaging before and after the rupture. According to researchers, plaques that were hidden within the vessel wall and pushing the vessel wall outward instead of occluding the lumen had a very high chance of forming a thrombus; plaques that caused vessel narrowing were almost always stable, which could explain why the most dangerous plaques generally escape detection by x-ray angiography. The study finds accurate, non-invasive MRI can identify these stable and unstable plaques.
source: Boston University School of Medicine
5.17.2010
Symposium Focuses on Patient Safety in CT Scanning
ATLANTA, GA (May 13, 2010) -- A national summit of medical professionals meeting last month in Atlanta called for the creation of consensus scan techniques as a way of addressing the concerns of patients undergoing CT scans -- a common medical imaging procedure that uses X-rays to show cross-sectional images of the body.
The summit brought together some of the world's leading experts in CT imaging, including medical physicists, radiologists, technologists, and equipment manufacturers. It was hosted by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), a professional organization whose members include board-certified health professionals and research scientists specializing in the use of radiation in medicine.
According to Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D., Professor of Radiologic Physics at the Mayo Clinic, who co-organized the meeting on behalf of AAPM, the summit achieved its goal of identifying several issues that need to be dealt with by the medical imaging community in order to address the safety concerns of patients at U.S. hospitals and clinics.
In the last several months, many medical physicists have witnessed first-hand how some patients have grown concerned about stories in the media questioning the risks and challenging the safety of CT scans.
"We all hear it every day. Patients ask, 'do I really need to have this procedure?'," said Dianna Cody, Ph.D., another co-organizer of the meeting. Cody, who is Professor of Imaging Physics at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, says that patients should not be afraid of getting medically appropriate CT exams. “When medically justified,” she said, “the benefits of CT scans far outweigh the risks.”
Even so, patients' fears are very real. The CT Dose Summit arose partly as a response to these fears, as leaders within the AAPM CT community discussed what more professionals in their field could do to ensure patient safety and to reassure patients coming for CT.
source: AAPM
The summit brought together some of the world's leading experts in CT imaging, including medical physicists, radiologists, technologists, and equipment manufacturers. It was hosted by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), a professional organization whose members include board-certified health professionals and research scientists specializing in the use of radiation in medicine.
According to Cynthia McCollough, Ph.D., Professor of Radiologic Physics at the Mayo Clinic, who co-organized the meeting on behalf of AAPM, the summit achieved its goal of identifying several issues that need to be dealt with by the medical imaging community in order to address the safety concerns of patients at U.S. hospitals and clinics.
In the last several months, many medical physicists have witnessed first-hand how some patients have grown concerned about stories in the media questioning the risks and challenging the safety of CT scans.
"We all hear it every day. Patients ask, 'do I really need to have this procedure?'," said Dianna Cody, Ph.D., another co-organizer of the meeting. Cody, who is Professor of Imaging Physics at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, says that patients should not be afraid of getting medically appropriate CT exams. “When medically justified,” she said, “the benefits of CT scans far outweigh the risks.”
Even so, patients' fears are very real. The CT Dose Summit arose partly as a response to these fears, as leaders within the AAPM CT community discussed what more professionals in their field could do to ensure patient safety and to reassure patients coming for CT.
source: AAPM
5.15.2010
Meet Phannie, NIST's Standard 'Phantom' for Calibrating MRI Machines
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)--a widely used medical tool that relies on magnetic fields and radio waves to visualize the body's internal structures, especially soft tissues--may soon become even more useful.
Phannie is the first “phantom” for calibrating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines that is traceable to standardized values. The plastic sphere is about the size of a person’s head and filled with 100 smaller spheres used as contrast-enhancing agents and measurement reference markers. NIST researchers in Boulder, Colo., built Phannie and tested it on an MRI scanner at the University of Colorado Brain Imaging Center.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has unveiled the first “phantom” for calibrating MRI machines that is traceable to standardized values. The prototype, named Phannie, was developed in collaboration with the standards committee of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM).
Traceable MRI calibrations are expected to enable accurate, quantitative measurements of tumors and other disease markers that can be reproduced across many different patients, scanners and clinics over time—and potentially reduce medical costs.
Displayed at the annual ISMRM meeting this past week,* the NIST phantom is a plastic sphere about the size of a person’s head, filled with water-bathed grids of 100 small plastic spheres containing various salt solutions that become magnetized in a magnetic field. By making MRI scans of Phannie, users can evaluate the image contrast, resolution, and accuracy of distance and volume measurements. A machine’s performance can be compared to standards, to other MRI machines, and to itself over time.
source: NIST
Phannie is the first “phantom” for calibrating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines that is traceable to standardized values. The plastic sphere is about the size of a person’s head and filled with 100 smaller spheres used as contrast-enhancing agents and measurement reference markers. NIST researchers in Boulder, Colo., built Phannie and tested it on an MRI scanner at the University of Colorado Brain Imaging Center.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has unveiled the first “phantom” for calibrating MRI machines that is traceable to standardized values. The prototype, named Phannie, was developed in collaboration with the standards committee of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM).
Traceable MRI calibrations are expected to enable accurate, quantitative measurements of tumors and other disease markers that can be reproduced across many different patients, scanners and clinics over time—and potentially reduce medical costs.
Displayed at the annual ISMRM meeting this past week,* the NIST phantom is a plastic sphere about the size of a person’s head, filled with water-bathed grids of 100 small plastic spheres containing various salt solutions that become magnetized in a magnetic field. By making MRI scans of Phannie, users can evaluate the image contrast, resolution, and accuracy of distance and volume measurements. A machine’s performance can be compared to standards, to other MRI machines, and to itself over time.
source: NIST
5.10.2010
UF receives $7.5 million to study MRI as a tool for evaluating patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Duchenne muscular dystrophy research at the University of Florida got a major boost with the award of $7.5 million in National Institutes of Health funding to study the use of magnetic resonance imaging in determining the natural progression of the disease.
UF scientists will assess whether MRI technology can be used as a precise, noninvasive measure of muscle tissue in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Understanding how the disease affects muscle tissue could help facilitate the testing of new therapies in clinical trials, researchers say.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects about one of every 3,500 to 5,000 boys born each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease causes the muscles that control movement to progressively weaken and lose the ability to regenerate after an injury, eventually replacing critical muscle tissue with fat and collagen. By age 12, many patients need a wheelchair. As the disease advances, the heart and respiratory system are affected and patients often die of cardiorespiratory failure in their 20s.
source: University of Florida
UF scientists will assess whether MRI technology can be used as a precise, noninvasive measure of muscle tissue in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Understanding how the disease affects muscle tissue could help facilitate the testing of new therapies in clinical trials, researchers say.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects about one of every 3,500 to 5,000 boys born each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease causes the muscles that control movement to progressively weaken and lose the ability to regenerate after an injury, eventually replacing critical muscle tissue with fat and collagen. By age 12, many patients need a wheelchair. As the disease advances, the heart and respiratory system are affected and patients often die of cardiorespiratory failure in their 20s.
source: University of Florida
5.08.2010
Preoperative MRI Assists in Surgical Planning and Helps Spare Erectile Function After a Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
Preoperative prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help urologic surgeons spare the neurovascular bundle (NVB) (which controls a man’s erectile function and continence) during a robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) for the treatment of prostate cancer, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
RALP is becoming increasingly common for the treatment of prostate cancer. “However it is limited by a lack of haptic feedback (loss of sense of touch), a component urologic surgeons use to evaluate the NVBs and determine if a nerve-sparing technique is possible,” said Timothy McClure, MD, lead author of the study. “Our study investigated the utility of MRI of the prostate in changing surgical decision making with regards to nerve sparring RALP,” said McClure.
The study, performed at the University of California, Los Angeles, included 104 men with biopsy proven prostate cancer who underwent preoperative MRI prior to RALP. “Twenty-nine out of 104 patients had the nerve sparring technique changed because of MR imaging. Of patients for whom the plan was changed, 49 percent underwent nerve sparing surgery and 40 percent had their plan changed to non-nerve sparing surgery,” said McClure.
source: ARRS
RALP is becoming increasingly common for the treatment of prostate cancer. “However it is limited by a lack of haptic feedback (loss of sense of touch), a component urologic surgeons use to evaluate the NVBs and determine if a nerve-sparing technique is possible,” said Timothy McClure, MD, lead author of the study. “Our study investigated the utility of MRI of the prostate in changing surgical decision making with regards to nerve sparring RALP,” said McClure.
The study, performed at the University of California, Los Angeles, included 104 men with biopsy proven prostate cancer who underwent preoperative MRI prior to RALP. “Twenty-nine out of 104 patients had the nerve sparring technique changed because of MR imaging. Of patients for whom the plan was changed, 49 percent underwent nerve sparing surgery and 40 percent had their plan changed to non-nerve sparing surgery,” said McClure.
source: ARRS
5.06.2010
CT Technique Eliminates the Need for X-rays in Trauma Patients With Possible Spinal Fractures
When trauma patients receive a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, a technique called CT spine reformatting eliminates the need for X-rays of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine to detect spinal fractures. This technique can lower cost and overall patient radiation exposure, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.
CT spine reformatting is performed by a CT technician after a CT scan is complete. It helps the radiologist assess the thoracic and/or lumbar regions of the spine without additional imaging, which can reduce cost and patient radiation exposure.
“Background research shows that CT is much more sensitive and specific than X-rays in detecting thoracic and lumbar spine fractures,” said Viesha Ciura, MD, lead author of the study. Our study looked at the percentage of trauma patients who had both reformatted CT data and X-rays of the thoracic and/or lumbar region of the spine and the additional radiation dose and cost associated with the unnecessary X-rays,” said Ciura.
The study, performed at the University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, included 897 trauma CT scans with spine reformats. 19 percent of the patients with reformatted CT data showing the spine also had X-rays of the same segment of the spine. “In patients with spinal fractures detected on the CT spine reformats, the X-rays provided no additional information, and in fact, some of these fractures were not seen on the X-rays,” said Ciura. “Our calculations suggest that in every 1,000 trauma patients, the added radiation dose from spine X-rays that may not have been needed is 170 mSv; the additional cost per 1,000 trauma patients was $19,678.93,” she said.
source: ARRS
CT spine reformatting is performed by a CT technician after a CT scan is complete. It helps the radiologist assess the thoracic and/or lumbar regions of the spine without additional imaging, which can reduce cost and patient radiation exposure.
“Background research shows that CT is much more sensitive and specific than X-rays in detecting thoracic and lumbar spine fractures,” said Viesha Ciura, MD, lead author of the study. Our study looked at the percentage of trauma patients who had both reformatted CT data and X-rays of the thoracic and/or lumbar region of the spine and the additional radiation dose and cost associated with the unnecessary X-rays,” said Ciura.
The study, performed at the University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, included 897 trauma CT scans with spine reformats. 19 percent of the patients with reformatted CT data showing the spine also had X-rays of the same segment of the spine. “In patients with spinal fractures detected on the CT spine reformats, the X-rays provided no additional information, and in fact, some of these fractures were not seen on the X-rays,” said Ciura. “Our calculations suggest that in every 1,000 trauma patients, the added radiation dose from spine X-rays that may not have been needed is 170 mSv; the additional cost per 1,000 trauma patients was $19,678.93,” she said.
source: ARRS
5.05.2010
Non-Contrast HiSS MRI Performs Just as Well as Conventional Contrast-Enhanced MRI at Separating Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions
High spectral and spatial (HiSS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — even when used without a contrast agent — matches the performance of conventional contrast-enhanced MRI at separating benign and malignant breast lesions, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA. Contrast agents are used to enhance the image quality of an imaging exam.
HiSS MRI provides important functional and anatomical information that conventional MRI cannot. In addition, the image quality of HiSS MRI can be better than that of conventional MRI.
The study, performed at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, included 56 women who were imaged using both HiSS and conventional MRI. “Results showed that HiSS MRI (without contrast agents) performed just as well in the task of separating benign and malignant lesions as conventional MRI (with contrast agents),” said Milica Medved, MD, lead author of the study. “The accuracy of both tests was higher than 0.8,” she said.
“Currently, HiSS is still part of a research effort, and is not in routine clinical practice yet. We are hoping to change that — in fact, we are in the process of initiating a multi-center imaging trial which, if successful, would pave the way for routine clinical applications of HiSS,” said Medved.
source: ARRS
HiSS MRI provides important functional and anatomical information that conventional MRI cannot. In addition, the image quality of HiSS MRI can be better than that of conventional MRI.
The study, performed at the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL, included 56 women who were imaged using both HiSS and conventional MRI. “Results showed that HiSS MRI (without contrast agents) performed just as well in the task of separating benign and malignant lesions as conventional MRI (with contrast agents),” said Milica Medved, MD, lead author of the study. “The accuracy of both tests was higher than 0.8,” she said.
“Currently, HiSS is still part of a research effort, and is not in routine clinical practice yet. We are hoping to change that — in fact, we are in the process of initiating a multi-center imaging trial which, if successful, would pave the way for routine clinical applications of HiSS,” said Medved.
source: ARRS
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