Recommendation For Pediatricians To Reduce Radiation During CT Scans

Computed Tomography (CT) scans has been one of the significantly important medical imaging techniques. The procedure provides highly-detailed images that help doctors in diagnosing a wide range of diseases. However, there are concerns about the safety of CT scans as they include delivering radiation to patients in order to generate the required images. Realizing the risks of radiation exposure, state Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines and Dr. Howard A. Freed, director of the department's Center for Environmental Health has recently sent mails to 16,000 pediatricians in New York. The mails included recommendations on how to reduce radiation exposure during CT scans carried out on children.

Mosby’s Imaging Suite Provides Online CT Training

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) is collaborating with Elsevier Partners; a publisher of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, to offer its members a new online solution, Mosby’s Imaging Suite, for improving their information about CT techniques and procedures. Mosby’s Imaging Suite represents an online fully integrated solution designed to overcome the communication, workflow, education, and compliance challenges that face radiologic technologists. Hospitals are going to be capable of using Mosby’s Imaging Suite to train its staff on the CT Basics modules which includes 10 interactive modules providing data and information about CT systems and their application. CT Basics modules have colorful images and animations that were created for easier delivering of information during the training. CT Basics modules cover several important issues such as CT equipment and instrumentation, imaging processing, image quality, and patient safety.

Toshiba Highlights Its AIDR CT Radiation Reduction Technology

CT has been one of the most important diagnostic imaging techniques, as it provides high-detailed images of internal organs of the body. However, CT scans are accompanied with high doses of radiation delivered to patients during procedures. Therefore, Toshiba, one of the major companies providing medical imaging systems, has recently introduced its “Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR)” technology, which reduces radiation doses during CT scans by up to 75%. However, the quality of the produced images is not affected. The New ADIR technology is now available in several systems from Toshiba, such as Aquilion ONETM, AquilionTM Premium edition and all 64 detector row CT scanners. All these systems will be highlighted at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm, Sweden this month. AIDR technology generates images with enhanced quality and with reduced noise levels when compared to the standard protocols for CT scans.

3D CT Technique To Enhance Cardiac Ablations

According to a recent study, a new 3D CT scanning technique can enhance the treatment of a dangerous and life threatening cardiac condition, ventricular tachycardia. The study is published online in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, a journal of the American Heart Association. Currently, this condition is treated by ablation. Yet, this technique has a long term success rate ranging between 50-60% only.  In their study, researchers from Baltimore’s University of Maryland School of Medicine have been testing software applications for two years to use with the new CT technique.

University Of Florida Hospital Penalized For Improper CT

A United States court in Florida released a verdict against the University of Florida hospital in Gainesville after the death of one of its patients following a CT scan. The hospital is to pay a penalty of $6.2 million. Cory Fine, PhD, a business-school professor at the University of North Florida, went in 2002 to have a gastric-bypass surgery for weight loss at the hospital.

Multi-color CT For Imaging Plaques

In a recent study, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine were able, for the first time, to design a new way for imaging vulnerable coronary artery plaques which tend to rupture. The new way uses multi-color computed tomography (CT), which will significantly help in the earlier detection of cardiovascular disease. The study will be highlighted in the September issue of Radiology. Statistics show that nearly 70% of heart attacks are caused by rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. Usually, high density lipoproteins (HDL) are attracted to plaques vulnerable to rupture as a protection mechanism to remove them from the walls of the arteries.

Performed CT And MRI Scans In US During 2010, Reduced

According to reports from several diagnostic imaging facilities, the number of CT and MRI scans performed in the United States in 2010 is same or even less than the number of scans conducted in 2009. Tom Cabot, vice president of Arlington Medical Resources, a medical-data company, mentioned that the numbers of CT and MRI scans performed in 2009 throughout the US are declining in 2010.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1782-performed-ct-and-mri-scans-in-us-during-2010-reduced.html

DMG Highlights The Risks Of Radiation Exposure During CT Scans

Computed tomography (CT) has been one of the powerful medical imaging techniques, the procedure produces highly-detailed images that aid doctors in diagnosis of several diseases. However, there are concerns about the safety of the technique since CT scans include delivering high doses of radiation to the patients. Realizing this, physicians at DuPage Medical Group (DMG) are working to develop new ways to decrease radiation exposure for their patients. Dr. Juliet Fallah, DMG diagnostic radiologist, explained "A couple of years ago these papers started coming out calculating the increased risk to patients when they get a CT scan, I was becoming very alarmed because I do CT scans all day on patients and I always assumed the benefits far outweighed the risks every time."

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1745-dmg-highlights-the-risks-of-radiation-exposure-during-ct-scans.html

A New Algorithm Reduces Perfusion CT Radiation

With the recent advances in computed tomography (CT) systems, the importance of perfusion CT scans is increasing. The technique is used as a powerful diagnostic tool for patients with risk for strokes. In a recent study, researchers from Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. are trying to develop new ways to reduce radiation doses accompanied with perfusion and other CT procedures.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1737-a-new-algorithm-reduces-perfusion-ct-radiation.html

Radiology-Readiness Program Provides Radiology Systems For Developing Countries

Advanced medical imaging systems, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play a significant role in providing high leveled healthcare services. Realizing this fact, a team of radiologists and humanitarians has been working in the Radiology-Readiness program, which aims to support developing countries by offering medical imaging systems, in addition to training and maintenance to help in improving healthcare service. The team conducting the Radiology-Readiness program includes members of RAD-AID, a global nonprofit network that started the program in October 2008.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1719-radiology-readiness-program-provides-radiology-systems-for-developing-countries.html

Performed MRI And CT Scans Vary Between Provinces In Canada

According to data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), diagnostic imaging procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are used in certain provinces in Canada more than the others. For instance, in 2009, MRI scans carried out in Alberta or New Brunswick were more than those conducted in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) or Newfoundland and Labrador by almost the double. The data reported that 54 MRI scans per 1,000 people in Alberta and 51 per 1,000 in New Brunswick against 23 per 1,000 in P.E.I. and 24 per 1,000 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1642-performed-mri-and-ct-scans-vary-between-provinces-in-canada.html

A New Approach For Reducing Radiation Exposure During Cone Beam CT

According to a new study, using a new approach in processing X-ray data would reduce, by nearly 10%, the radiation delivered to patients while undergoing cone beam CT scans. The study was carried out by researchers from the University of California in San Diego. The study will be highlighted at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) in Philadelphia.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1621-a-new-approach-for-reducing-radiation-exposure-during-cone-beam-ct.html

Visage Imaging Releases Its New 5.3 Amira

Visage Imaging, Inc., a branch of Pro Medicus Ltd., announced that it has released its new 5.3 version of Amira, a platform for visualizing, analyzing, and presenting complex 3D and 4D biomedical data. Amira has new Neuro option that includes several comprehensive tools for neuroscience research, such as MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), in addition to CT and MR brain perfusion imaging. The new version of Amira offers efficient calculation of perfusion results along with analysis and display of multi-channel functional image data such as gradients, tensors, and fiber tracking.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/article/1599-visage-imaging-releases-its-new-53-amira.html

A New Software To Reduce CT Radiation Exposure To Children

Computed Tomography (CT) has been one of the most important diagnostic imaging techniques. It generates 3D images of body organs allowing doctors to be able to determine diseased conditions in body in a much easier way. CT has helped in diagnosing a wide range of conditions starting from broken bones until detecting vascular blockage and tumors. However, CT scan delivers much radiation doses than conventional X-ray in order to produce those highly detailed images. Concerns have been raised recently regarding the safety of the technique as high radiation doses can result in serious complication. Experts are currently discussing designing measures to minimize the delivered radiation doses, especially to children, while not affecting the quality of the generated images.

http://www.healthimaginghub.com/component/content/article/2211-Digital%20Radiography/1465-a-new-software-to-reduce-ct-radiation-exposure-to-children.html