Radiology News and Research

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Radiology is the medical specialty directing medical imaging technologies to diagnose and sometimes treat diseases. Originally it was the aspect of medical science dealing with the medical use of electromagnetic energy emitted by X-ray machines or other such radiation devices for the purpose of obtaining visual information as part of medical imaging.

CT scans may be delivering as much radiation as a low-dose atomic bomb

Those full-body CT scans advertised at some health care centers may be delivering as much radiation as a low-dose atomic bomb, according to a new study. And that means people who get them could be raising their cancer risk, researchers from Columbia University report in the journal Radiology (Vol. 232, No. 3:735-738).

5 Sep 2004

Surgery plus radiation therapy an effective way to treat early breast cancer in women aged 70 and older

For early breast cancer, the standard of care is surgery to remove the cancerous lump followed by radiation therapy, thereby allowing the patient to keep her breast. However, older women are not always offered this option.

1 Sep 2004

Doctors trialing wireless enabled handheld devices to obtain immediate access to the latest patient information

The use of technology in medicine takes another step forward with a program being road-tested now at Creighton University Medical Center.

1 Sep 2004

Research provides definitive evidence that radiation risk is associated with full-body CT scans

The risk of cancer mortality from a single full-body computed tomography (CT) scan is modest, but not negligible, and the risks resulting from elective annual scans are much higher, according to a study published in the September issue of the journal Radiology.

31 Aug 2004

Diabetes and heart disease may stem from fat you can't see

Becoming fat brings conspicuous changes to the shape of the human body, but pioneering research in the Department of Medicine at Flinders University, Australia is working on the theory that the obvious "spare tyre" may not be the major culprit in fat-related diseases.

24 Aug 2004

Corkscrew-like device that removes blood clots from the brains of stroke sufferers

The device "appears fairly safe and has the potential to make dramatic differences in stroke therapy," said Wayne Clark, M.D., professor of neurology and director of the Oregon Stroke Center.

18 Aug 2004

In the fragmented European hospital information systems market, established vendors have a distinct advantage

New vendors are therefore finding it extremely difficult to break through the barriers and reach potential clients. While some cash-rich vendors have attempted to address this issue through the acquisitions route.

18 Aug 2004

To prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, and death, National “PAD Coalition” is formed

Vascular Disease Foundation spearheads new national, multidisciplinary organization to educate patients, clinicians on peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

6 Aug 2004

ASTRO and ACS join to promote cancer survivorship

As part of an initiative to give back to the cancer communities in the cities visited during its annual scientific meetings, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology is partnering with the Atlanta chapter of the American Cancer Society to raise awareness of cancer survivorship.

5 Aug 2004

Pacemakers and defibrillators can be safe for use in magnetic resonance imaging machines

In animal and laboratory studies, scientists at Johns Hopkins have shown that modern, implanted heart assist devices - such as pacemakers and defibrillators - can be safe for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines

3 Aug 2004

First-of-its-kind noninvasive imaging technique shows two proteins interacting

Radiologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a first-of-its-kind noninvasive imaging technique that allows them to watch two proteins interacting in live animals.

2 Aug 2004

Combination of hormonal therapy, radioactive seed implant and external beam radiation therapy increases chance of cancer cure

High-risk prostate cancer patients who undergo a combination of hormonal therapy, radioactive seed implant (also called brachytherapy) and external beam radiation therapy are shown to have an increased chance of cancer cure

29 Jul 2004

Strategic analysis on impact of regulations on radiology practice in Europe

The absence of technical standards in the Medical Device Directive has forced medical imaging companies to conform to additional, country specific standards. The presence of multilayered and diffused national legislatives in a stringent regulatory environment has invariably complicated product and technology innovation.

27 Jul 2004

Study finds that physicians help patients quit smoking but could provide more education

Physicians are an important resource in New Jerseyans’ fight to stop smoking, but they can and should become even more effective educators, according to a survey by the Center for State Health Policy (CSHP) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

21 Jul 2004

Today's prostate cancer treatments are more aggressive and successful

In recent years, doctors have become more willing to treat prostate cancer more aggressively with radiation therapy, and as a result, more patients are being cured of their cancer

15 Jul 2004

Investigation of glue as an embolic agent

Although embolization has been used for over 20 years to treat trauma victims with massive bleeding and to control hemorrhage after childbirth instead of emergency hysterectomy, the investigation of glue as an embolic agent is new.

13 Jul 2004

New imaging agent will enable doctors to rapidly and accurately detect those hard-to-diagnose appendicitis cases

About half of the 700,000 annual cases of suspected appendicitis in the United States lack the usual symptoms – pain in the lower right abdomen, fever and a rising white blood cell count – making the decision to operate somewhat problematic.

7 Jul 2004

New information helps lung cancer patients better understand treatment

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 175,000 Americans will learn they have lung cancer this year. Of these patients, it is estimated that nearly two-thirds of them will receive radiation therapy, either alone or in combination with other treatments.

7 Jul 2004

Broadband technology for medical professionals in rural Australia

The Commonwealth Government hopes a new IT trial will improve communications between widely separated health providers.

6 Jul 2004

Virtual reality appears to dramatically change how the brain physically registers pain

The work, which used a specialized type of magnetic resonance imaging to track pain-related brain activity, showed drops of as much as 97 percent in such activity in some brain centers. The study marks the first time that scientists have documented a link between virtual reality and pain reduction in terms of an actual physiological response.

21 Jun 2004