Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Radiology / Nuclear Medicine News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/radiology/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156474.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156474.php With rapid change taking place in the surgical environment as the range of interventional and minimally invasive procedures continues to expand, Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) today announced the availability of the Veradius X-ray system. A mobile C-arm with a super thin, flat detector, Philips Veradius is designed to give the surgeon more flexibility and to improve patient care by streamlining workflow and improving image quality. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156348.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156348.php The American Society of Radiologic Technologists announced it has released the first in a series of interactive learning modules focusing on computed tomography. CT Basics: Module 1 - Fundamentals provides in-depth information about the modality and its equipment and also offers radiologic technologists information about careers in CT. The first of 10 modules, the program features colorful images with easy-to-understand animations that engage participants in the learning process. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156356.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156356.php Scientists at the Health Protection Agency have published their advice to UK bodies following new international guidance on ionising radiation*. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) published updated recommendations on protection against ionising radiation in 2007. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has now published its advice on applying those recommendations. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156371.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156371.php A new study published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that positron emission tomography (PET) scans in mice can be used to determine whether a novel type of breast cancer treatment is working as intended. Researchers successfully used PET and a specially-developed radioactive compound to image HER2 - a protein often associated with aggressive breast cancer - in breast cancer cells before and after treatment aimed at decreasing HER2 expression. Breast Cancer Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156082.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156082.php After a series of comprehensive research studies and a governmental research initiative, a respected team of radiation biologists and antioxidant scientists at Premier Micronutrient Corporation has developed BioShield-Radiation® - a patented micronutrient formulation specifically designed to address oxidative stress produced by ionizing radiation. Now offered for the first time direct to the public via the new Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155976.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155976.php Dr. Gary D. Kao testified Monday about botched prostate cancer treatment he gave to patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital run by the University of Pennsylvania. The Prostate / Prostate Cancer Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156029.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156029.php Even at very high doses, gadolinium-based contrast agents alone are not sufficient to cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with kidney problems, according to a study performed at the Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL. NSF is a rare and serious syndrome that leads to fibrosis of the skin, joints and even internal organs. Some research indicates NSF is caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents that are commonly used today during MR procedures. Urology / Nephrology Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155930.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155930.php While screening for possible pulmonary emboli using pulmonary CT angiography, a new study shows that radiologists can effectively lower the patient radiation dose by approximately 44% and improve vascular enhancement without deterioration of image quality, according to a study performed at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. A total of 400 patients believed to have a pulmonary embolism were evaluated using pulmonary CT angiography. Respiratory / Asthma Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155874.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155874.php XCounter AB (publ) (AIM:XCT), a technology leader in the development of tomosynthesis-based 3D medical imaging, announced positive initial results from the first clinical evaluation of its innovative breast screening device XC Mammo - 3T. The device is the world's first dedicated 3D digital mammography system for the detection of breast cancer, the most common form of cancer found in women. Breast Cancer Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155863.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155863.php Varian Medical Systems, Inc., (NYSE: VAR) announced it has acquired the assets of Houston-based IKOEmed and IKOEtech, privately-owned suppliers of software used in the planning of radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments. The acquisition enables Varian to offer hospitals and clinics an additional software tool to automate and accelerate the most time-consuming portion of the treatment planning process. Varian is paying approximately $2. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155799.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155799.php A survey by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has confirmed that there are marked geographical variations in patients' access to radiotherapy, and also important differences in treatment capacity, across England. The survey is presented by Dr Michael Williams, in a paper appearing in the July 2009 edition of the journal Clinical Oncology. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155753.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155753.php A University of Wisconsin-Madison biomedical engineer and colleagues have developed a method that, applied in MRI scans of the breast, could spare some women with increased breast cancer risk the pain and stress of having to endure a biopsy of a questionable lump or lesion. The universal technology will give radiologists greater confidence in visually classifying a lesion as malignant or benign. Breast Cancer Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155768.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155768.php The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM)-the flagship publication of SNM-has been ranked the top medical imaging journal worldwide, according to new data released in the 2008 Journal Citation Reports(c) published by Thomson Reuters. The top ranking recognizes JNM's exceptional quality and increasing influence as an academic and professional resource. JNM-a peer-reviewed, monthly publication-earned an impact factor of 6. MRI / PET / Ultrasound Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155631.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155631.php Five years from now, Lab scientists will be able to better determine how, when and why plutonium moves in soil and groundwater. The way to predict how plutonium is transported in groundwater away from a site is by looking at the dominant geochemical processes that control plutonium's (Pu) behavior in the subsurface at environmental levels. But that isn't always so easy. Water - Air Quality / Agriculture Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155255.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155255.php Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be successfully treated using a carefully personalized chemotherapy regimen without cranial radiation, investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have found. Such radiation of the brain was once a standard ALL treatment to prevent recurrence of the leukemia in the central nervous system (CNS). Lymphoma / Leukemia Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155157.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155157.php The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will offer free mammograms through a televised phone bank on FOX 9 KMSP-TV in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 25, 2009. The phone bank will air during the 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. The mammograms are offered through the Sage Screening Program, a state and federally funded program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women age 40 and older. Breast Cancer Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155106.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155106.php Emergency physicians who evaluate patients with non-specific chest pain using whole chest multi-detector CT (MDCT) combined with retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG) gating can reduce the patient radiation dose by 71% using MDCT combined with prospective ECG triggering instead, according to a study performed at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155096.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155096.php Who suffers from low back pain; my brother, my boss's brother, my neighbor, a friend on the golf course and recently the media reports Regis Philbin and Jeff Gordon suffer from low back pain. Sacroiliac Pain is caused by inflammation or abnormal function of the joint which can lead to sacral nerve damage, and is a major cause of low back pain. Low back pain is estimated to affect 6.5 million people in the world. Back Pain Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155023.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155023.php A survey of 140 independent imaging centers across the United States reveals that diagnostic radiology specialty networks play a critical role in channeling patients to imaging centers for both workers' compensation and health insurance patients. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155026.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155026.php U-Systems, the leader in dedicated breast ultrasound systems, together with Medical Director Jessica A. Guingrich, MD of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Susan G. Komen Breast Center and Centers for Breast Health announced that they have initiated the SOMO•INSIGHT Clinical Study. The first participants have been enrolled and the first pathologically confirmed cancer has been detected in a mammographically-negative screening patient. Breast Cancer Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154877.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154877.php A PET scan uses radiation, or nuclear medicine imaging, to produce 3-dimensional, color images of the functional processes within the human body. PET stands for positron emission tomography. The machine detects pairs of gamma rays which are emitted indirectly by a tracer (positron-emitting radionuclide) which is placed in the body on a biologically active molecule. The images are reconstructed by computer analysis. MRI / PET / Ultrasound Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154755.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154755.php Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced that the Turkish Ministry of Health has purchased two CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery Systems for installation in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey's first CyberKnife System was installed at Anadolu Medical Center in January 2005. A second system was installed in Turkey at Hacettepe University Hospital in May 2007. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154671.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154671.php Bioengineers at Duke University have developed a laboratory robot that can successfully locate tiny pieces of metal within flesh and guide a needle to its exact location -- all without the need for human assistance. Medical Devices / Diagnostics Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154710.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154710.php Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced that the Turkish Ministry of Health has purchased two CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery Systems for installation in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey's first CyberKnife System was installed at Anadolu Medical Center in January 2005. A second system was installed in Turkey at Hacettepe University Hospital in May 2007. Radiology / Nuclear Medicine Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154664.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154664.php The amount of time imaging equipment is in use in outpatient settings does not approach use rates President Obama and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommend Medicare utilize to calculate reimbursement for imaging, according to data recently collected by the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA), a national association of business professionals in radiology. MRI / PET / Ultrasound