External landmarking tool lets imagers fuse PET, SPECT, MR, CT
Obtaining cleanly fused cerebral PET and CT images no longer requires a multimillion-dollar hybrid scanner. Austrian researchers have developed an external frame that can facilitate fusion of those modalities and also MR or SPECT. Researchers from the
Obtaining cleanly fused cerebral PET and CT images no longer requires a multimillion-dollar hybrid scanner. Austrian researchers have developed an external frame that can facilitate fusion of those modalities and also MR or SPECT.
Researchers from the University Clinic Innsbruck use a rigid, lightweight frame to fix reference points around a patient's face. A customized mouthpiece, similar to those used by athletes, and a vacuum pump hold the frames in an identical position during each scan. Different materials are used as markers for each type of scan.
Once two or more image sets are acquired, software registers the reference points and overlays the various modality data. In initial trials with 49 patients, the coregistration was accurate to within 0.9 to 1.4 mm, according to Prof. Reto Bale, leader of the interdisciplinary team working on coregistration and interventional procedures.
Beyond matching functional and anatomic data for analysis of epilepsy and other conditions, the frame can also be used for real-time surgical guidance and to plan radiotherapy.
The tool is still in development, and the software can coregister only images obtained using the reference frame, Bale said. Making a custom mouthpiece for each patient costs about $60, but the mouthpieces are reusable and can be attached to whatever modality frame is needed. Because positioning relies on the mouthpiece being held in place with suction, patients need enough upper teeth to hold the mouthpiece firmly.
New Analysis Forecasts Substantial Cost Savings with the Use of Photon Counting CT for CCTA
March 8th 2025The use of ultra-high-resolution photon-counting CT in the evaluation of stable chest pain may significantly reduce follow-up tests and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) procedures, possibly resulting in millions in health-care cost savings, according to a cost-effectiveness analysis presented recently at the European Congress of Radiology.
Can Deep Learning Ultra-Fast bpMRI Have an Impact in Prostate Cancer Imaging?
March 3rd 2025A deep learning-enhanced ultra-fast bpMRI protocol offered similar sensitivity for csPCa as mpMRI with an 80 percent reduction in scan time, according to research findings presented at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) conference.
ECR Mammography Study: Pre-Op CEM Detects 34 Percent More Multifocal Masses than Mammography
February 28th 2025In addition to contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) demonstrating over a 90 percent detection rate for multifocal masses, researchers found that no significant difference between histological measurements and CEM, according to study findings presented at the European Congress of Radiology.
ECR Study Finds Mixed Results with AI on Breast Ultrasound
March 6th 2024While adjunctive use of AI led to significantly higher specificity and accuracy rates in detecting cancer on breast ultrasound exams in comparison to unassisted reading by breast radiologists, researchers noted that 12 of 13 BI-RADS 3 lesions upgraded by AI were ultimately benign, according to research presented at the European Congress of Radiology.
Can Autonomous AI Help Reduce Prostate MRI Workloads Without Affecting Quality?
March 1st 2024Based on findings from a multicenter study of over 1,600 patients, researchers at the European Congress of Radiology suggest the inclusion of autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) triage could facilitate up to a 75 percent reduction in prostate MRI reading workload.
