Small bowel imaging
For gastrointestinal exams, MRI fluoroscopy offers an alternative to conventional methods of swallowing and gastric emptying that are so repugnant to patients.
MRI
Ultrasound in progress
Ultrasound technology is continuously developing and competing with the sectional imaging procedures – therapy progress can be monitored, facilitating personalised medicine.
Compact, comfortable and cost-effective
Toshiba’s new 1.5-T MRI Vantage ELAN system is not only cost-effective, the firm reports, but truly compact; it needs only 23 square metres of space. Yet, the system uses the same type of magnet as other Toshiba products to achieve excellent image quality.
Teleradiology and education
Given the ever more complex radiological examinations, the need to provide care in sparsely populated regions, or new labour law provisions such as the EU working time directive, radiologists are under increased pressure to find solutions to provide imaging services during off-hours.
Dual energy brings more to meet the eye
How does spectral – or dual energy – imaging work? Very similar to red and green light used in black-and-white photography. A black-and-white camera provides information on the colours of the photographed objects: an object that is black under red light is actually green.
CT developments far excel those for MRI
For the sixth time, Alain Blum MD has invited the French CT community to Nancy to attend a symposium on multi-detector CT. The last invitations, two years back, drew several hundred radiologists and every CT manufacturer to Nancy for two days of debate, discussion and demonstrations.
RSNA Mobile Computing Devices
Within many exhibitors’ booths at the RSNA, mobile computing devices are in use, a sales tool augmenting the vendor’s display. They are like bunnies running rampant. They are proliferating, and their intelligent use is aiding complex sales presentations.
Article • Software
Monitoring radiology report turnaround time
Improving the turnaround time of radiology reports is a key performance objective of most hospital radiology departments. Software that automates the process has been available for many years.
Breast cancer early detection – quo vadis?
Why is early detection of breast cancer so important? Professor Dr Walter Heindel, Director of the Institute of Clinical Radiology at University Hospital Münster, Germany, offers an unequivocal answer.
Faster scanners, more parameters, better markers…
With MRI and CT scanners widely available in clinical routine, radiologists cull increasingly precise and relevant functional tumour information for diagnostics and monitoring purposes. Both modalities offer technological and methodological approaches, initiated by the discipline itself, that have become indispensable for certain frequent tumours.
Article • Mobile
MRI goes wireless
The current setup for MRI-guided interventions is challenging. With a physician positioned in the MRI room and an MRI operator in an adjacent room, setting scanning parameters requires communication by hand signals or via a headset that comes with inconvenient cabling.
Bringing innovative technologies together
Prostate cancer is the most common cancerous disease in men. Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arrived the diagnostic capabilities for early detection have improved considerably, along with more selective prostate cancer treatment.
Advances in MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy
Widely considered a safe procedure for targeted tissue sampling, the fusion of MR and ultrasound images for prostate biopsy purposes is quickly gaining ground among radiologists.
Smart Fusion of modalities enhances clinical output
Adding high quality, dynamic ultrasound for hybrid imaging enables clinicians to improve detection of a range of lesions or to intervene better for improved clinical outcomes. ‘We can no longer be fascinated with pictures; what we need is proof of the clinical benefit from tools and techniques,’ said Professor Jose Zamorano MD, Director of Cardiology at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in…
Infarction size and transmurality
A cardiac catheter is insufficient to evaluate the effects of a myocardial infarction. The size of the infarction and post-event cardiac muscle activity are crucial predictive parameters that determine therapy decisions
Finally surgeons can look beneath the surface
Use of ultrasound for guidance is gaining ground, researchers explained during the 4th IPCAI, the International Conference on Information Processing in Computer-Assisted Interventions held during CARS 2013 in Heidelberg.
Intrasense and IMAGE ink collaboration
RIS and PACS vendor, IMAGE Information Systems, and advanced visualization specialist, Intrasense, combine forces to deliver 3D/4D advanced image post-processing features in an integrated PACS solution.
Cardiology drives innovation
‘Cardiology is one of the most innovative medical disciplines. Many modern technologies, such as catheterisations or imaging procedures, were triggered by cardiology,’ declared Professor Dr Gerald Maurer MD.
Molecular US therapy, computer diagnosis and customized medication
Which technological advancements can we expect to see in the field of medical technology? How well can diagnosis and therapy be customized for each patient?
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
The potential of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is still largely untapped. One novel application might be ablation follow-up. The first MRI-guided cardiac interventions were performed at Herzzentrum Leipzig, but, as far as coronary imaging is concerned, MDCT remains superior to MRI
Searching Brain Pathways for Clues on Autism
Timothy Roberts, PhD, works in the middle of an epidemic. In the 20 years the researcher has studied autism, the diagnosis rate among children in the United States has risen from one in 1,000 to one in 88. No one is sure of the cause, how to prevent it, or how to treat it.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) – the inflammatory condition in the central nervous system (CNS) – leads to scarring, with several scars forming lesions, also called plaques. Although long assumed that only white matter is involved, this is increasingly questioned.
rfMRI reveals mind moving matter
‘We finally have tools to non-invasively study the human brain in normal subjects and diseased patients,’ says Professor Stefan Sunaert, Head of Translational MRI at the Department of Imaging & Pathology, Leuven University Hospital (Belgium)
COCIR Welcomes Resolution of Threat to Medical Scans
COCIR, the European trade association covering medical diagnostics, welcomes the adoption yesterday by European Council of the revised Directive on Protecting Workers from Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, also known as the EMF Directive.
Diagnostic imaging service extended
Medical Equipment Solutions and Applications (MESA) and Euromedic International have agreed to extend their current diagnostic imaging service and maintenance partnership covering Euromedic’s Tier 1 (MRI, CT, PET-CT, Gamma Camera and Angio) and Tier 2 (mammography, ultrasound and other general X-ray) systems.
