Next Issue
Detection is Key
There is currently a debate raging as to how best detect the onset of breast cancer. A recent study in the US concluded that a new technique called molecular breast imaging, or MBI, could be three times more effective in detecting breast cancer than traditional practices. Carrie Hruska of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and researcher on the study looks at the current standards of practice and asks if there is a 'perfect answer'.
Finger on the Pulse
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the biggest killers in the world. Despite this and a growing array of technologies available, many working within the field of medicine believe their options for detection remain somewhat limited. Step-and-Shoot is said to be an 'exciting advance' in the field but what is it and what benefits does it offer? Furqan Tejani, MD, director of advanced cardiovascular imaging at Long Island College Hospital and the American Heart Association,
explains.
Web of Intrigue
As imaging departments have migrated from traditional film-based images to digital, the benefits are obvious. The use of the internet is now crucial to the day-to-day running of an imaging facility. But what would happen if this service went down and how should departments protect themselves? Daniel Nutkis, CEO of the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST), considers these issues and offer some advice.
Food for Thought
PET scans may help with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, according to a recent study. The team conducting the research said the scans may enable doctors to determine whether a person has 'plaques' in the brain that are a hallmark of the disease. Lead researcher Dr Ville Leinonen discusses his work and why he feels this could be a breakthrough in the fight against the disease.
Safer Scanning
MRIs are performed around the world every day. Facilities are well prepped for the event of an accident as are physicians well aware and fully trained for the danger of such procedures. In 2001 a six-year-old boy died from what is commonly known as a 'missile effect'. Since then authorities and individual facilities have taken major steps to further improve safety but these risks still exist. This special report investigates the thinking behind today's safety measures, how the
medical profession has responded and what manufacturers have introduced to help protect patients and practitioners alike.
Looking into the Future
In recent years there have been some disagreements as to the effectiveness of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for the diagnosis of certain types of cancers. It is argued that other forms of scanning such as CT and even MRI can prove better to help locate and identify any potential problem areas. Dr Gerald DeNardo looks at the growing use of PET and asks whether there is cause for concern or if it is right to use the technology more widely.
Kill or Cure?
The growing use of CT technology is something that has concerned some within the profession for some time. While it is widely recognised that CT scans have opened up an abundance of possibilities in the diagnostic field, there is much reason for concern in regard to the levels of radiation exposure. One leading radiologist recently likened the use of CTs and radiation exposure to the smoking debate. Dr Jonathan Goldin discusses his concerns with us.
Maturing Markets
According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report the healthcare system in Taiwan is "one of the most advanced in the Asian region, and the imaging sector has witnessed massive evolution, particularly in the radiography segment". An industry analysis specialist investigates the drivers behind this growing market and what it might mean for the future of healthcare in the region.
Taking the Debate Home
A recent study conducted by a team at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, has found that offering patients haemodialysis after undergoing an MRI using gadolinium contrast dyes may help reduce the risk from NSF. The disease has been the source for much discussion in recent years and continued to divide opinion. This report looks at the work of Dr Philip Alderson and his research team and asks what it might
mean for the treatment or even irradiation of NSF in the future.
Shedding Light on Surgery
Recognising that sometimes cancer patients may leave the operating table with part of the tumour remaining or having had a nerve damaged, a new method of imaging that utilises a contrast agent that emits near-infrared light and attaches to virtually any kind of tissue, is currently under development. This new technology, it is hoped, will mean surgeons can correctly pinpoint the area and operate safely. John Frangioni of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston explains more.
