Ultrasound

An overwhelming majority of the audience at an RSNA special focus session Thursday voted in favor of keeping up the efforts to get FDA approval for the use of contrast ultrasound for general radiology applications.

Radiologists must become more alert to the extensive range of health problems faced by patients who swallow fish bones, according to a thought-provoking poster from Spain that was one of eight international exhibits to scoop a prestigious Magna Cum Laude award in the vast RSNA 2007 poster hall on Wednesday afternoon.

GE updates Signa platformSiemens introduces high-end ultrasound classHitachi debuts flagship ultrasoundEsaote enhances compact ultrasound

The hierarchy of ultrasound systems at Hitachi Medical Systems America has a new flagship. Particularly noteworthy on the HI Vision 900 is an elastographic capability that characterizes pathologies based on ultrasonic measurements of the relative stiffness of tissue.

The S-2000 ultrasound scanner, takes shape this week as a new commercial product at the high end of the Siemens Medical Systems’ ultrasound portfolio. The S-2000, cleared by the FDA in mid-October, does not replace the Sequoia, Siemens’ flagship since it acquired ultrasound pioneer Acuson six years ago. Instead, it complements the system, according to Siemens executives, by combining best-of-breed technologies from Sequoia with Siemens’ ultrasound platforms developed prior to the Acuson acquisition.

A new ultrasound system and an upgrade to an existing product from Esoate address interest in compact ultrasound.

An enhanced version of the z.one convertible ultrasound system, z.one ultra, appeared this week from Zonare Medical Systems. The upgrade automatically adjusts gain and brightness and traces spectral Doppler waveform.

Siemens robot revolutionizes interventional imagingToshiba spotlights contrast-free MRAZonare showcases z.one ultraHitachi releases 16-slice CTItalian vendor updates open MR

MRI has outrun other modalities in a screening trial involving high-risk women. Such research helps justify an estimated $1.4 billion a year in direct costs for the U.S. if new American Cancer Society guidelines are followed.

MR arthrography and ultrasound bring different strengths to imaging and management of joint injuries and stresses, according to research presented at the RSNA meeting. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a superior method of assessing neovascularity in patients with lateral epicondylitis, while MR can detect signs of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome after surgery. A combination of MRI and ultrasound may be the most effective solution for imaging medial elbow pain.

Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and ultrasound bring different strengths to imaging and treating joint injuries and stresses, according to research presented at the RSNA meeting. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a superior method of assessing of neovascularity in patients with lateral epicondylitis, while MR can detect signs of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome after surgery. A combination of MRI and ultrasound may be the most effective solution for imaging medial elbow pain.

Transcranial B-mode sonography can be used as a test to identify restless legs syndrome, a difficult condition to diagnose. Doctors previously relied on a patient’s description of unmeasurable symptoms. Exams showed hypoechogenic substantia nigra, red nucleus, and brain stem raphe.

The massive American College of Radiology Imaging Network 6666 trial shows that adding ultrasound to the initial screening protocol for high-risk women could help detect 30% more cancers. The cost, however, could be many more needless biopsies of benign lesions.

Research presented at RSNA 2007 bolsters the role of MR imaging for preoperative surgical planning in patients with known breast cancer and in working up the challenging invasive lobular carcinoma.

The RSNA has decided to eliminate ultrasound as a separate subspecialty category from its annual meeting’s scientific paper program in favor of an organ-based and clinical subspecialty-based approach. The move was received with mixed reactions by radiologists and sonologists.

Of the 6000 scientific abstracts submitted to the RSNA this year, four major areas stand out, according to Dr. Gerald Dodd III, chair of the RSNA’s scientific program committee.

Plans for a clinical trial designed to overcome long-standing regulatory obstacles to the general clinical use of ultrasound contrast media in the U.S. have been knocked off track by an FDA-mandated black box safety warning for two microbubble agents approved for echocardiography.

CTA analyzer enters new channelsAIT adds image-guided biopsyMerge steps into teleradiologyBiospace med adds VPs

Ultrasound-guided prolotherapy alleviates pain in patients with chronic tendinosis of the Achilles tendon, according to University of British Columbia researchers.

Transcranial brain sonography can exclude the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in patients experiencing sporadic symptoms. Using exams focused on the substantia nigra and lenticular nucleus, researchers found that the difference between idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and two other movement disorders is clearer in patients under 60 years old.

Imaging advocates fear the adoption of a bundled approach to Medicare reimbursement for contrast media, radiopharmaceuticals, and the technical component of medical imaging could lead to substantial payment cuts from the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System.

Acusphere preps novel ultrasound agent for FDA submissionCardiac IT morphs to handle images and patient dataContrast agent illuminates breast cancer with near-infrared lightPET scans may clear path for noninvasive lung cancer treatment

Hospitalists given focused training for conducting cardiac exams with hand-carried ultrasound systems still could not match echocardiography technicians at acquiring images, though they came closer at measurement and interpretation. Hand-carried ultrasound devices are growing in popularity, but training methods for noncardiologists have not been well defined.

Study documents value of 64-slice CT for diabetic patientsThe day may be drawing closer when CT is widely accepted as an adjunct to cardiac catheterization. Research presented this week at the American Heart Association meeting indicates that 64-slice CTs, but not those generating 16 slices per rotation, can help identify patients who need angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery. Bayer extends Magnevist supply dealCarestream cuts distribution deal, integrates ITRadlink slates computed radiography, PACS for RSNA

As the end of the year closes in, vendors find themselves trailing far behind the previous year in the number of devices cleared by the FDA for marketing in the U.S.