Diagnostic Reading #22: Five “Must Read” Articles on Medical Imaging
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In the news: tips to reduce inappropriate imaging requests.
This week’s articles in Diagnostic Reading include: PET/MRI with ultrasound may reduce biopsy need; deep-learning process combines images; tips to help with inappropriate imaging requests; ultrasound may help with COVID inflammation; and 3D-printed shields from CT can reduce tissue injury.
PET/MRI advances efforts for virtual biopsy in breast cancer – AuntMinnie
FDG-PET/MRI combined with ultrasound could reduce the need for invasive biopsy to confirm suspicious findings in women with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Researchers found that FDG-PET/MRI outperformed sonography, breast MRI and thoracic MRI for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases; and that FDG-PET/MRI when combined with ultrasound may achieve a level of accuracy that could obviate the need for invasive biopsies.
Researchers fuse MR and CT images using deep learning technique – DOTmed HealthCare Business News
Researchers in China are touting a new deep learning-based process that “fuses” multi-modal scans to create a higher quality medical image that can improve clinical diagnosis and patient outcomes. Known as image fusion, the technique automatically identifies and combines information of scans from different modalities—including MR, CT and SPECT—to produce a single high-quality image.
4 tips to help radiology departments vet and cancel inappropriate imaging requests – Radiology Business
Radiologists can play a pivotal role in vetting and canceling inappropriate imaging requests, and there are a few moves departments can make to set up the specialty for success, according to new guidance from the United Kingdom’s Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). Vetting is an “extremely important” but often overlooked duty of physicians in imaging. RCR experts share some fundamental technology requirements to ensure this process is useful and efficient.
Using ultrasound stimulation to reduce inflammation in COVID-19 in-patients – Axis Imaging News
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have initiated a clinical trial to test the efficacy of using ultrasound to stimulate the spleen and reduce COVID-19-related inflammation, decreasing the length of hospital stays. Prior research has demonstrated the anti-inflammatory value of spleen stimulation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both RA and COVID-19 patients can suffer from a hyperinflammatory response driven by over-production of cytokines.
Personalized shields reduce radiotherapy tissue Injury– MedImaging
3D-printed devices derived from CT images can shield healthy structures in the gastrointestinal tract during radiation therapy (RT) procedures, according to a study published in Advanced Science. Most cancer patients undergoing RT will develop collateral tissue injury as a result of treatment. These personalized shields were designed and contoured on diagnostic CT scans and generated into 3D models with high atomic number materials to block gamma and X-rays and reduce radiation backscatter.
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