Diagnostic Reading #2: Five “Must Read” Articles on Medical Imaging
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Calls for ‘screening radiologist’ and a cap on radiologists’ workload is in the news.
This week’s articles in Diagnostic Reading include: new X-ray method provides more insight into Alzheimer’s; industry experts back “screening radiologist”; ultralow-dose CT effective for 3D printing; EEG helps with brain injury prognosis; and ACR leader wants to limit radiology workload.
New X-ray technique estimates amyloid buildup in Alzheimer’s disease – DOTmed HealthCare Business News
Researchers have developed a new X-ray technique with the FDA that is expected to provide greater insight into Alzheimer’s progression and treatment. This method—known as Spectral small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)—is designed to estimate amyloid plaque build-up in the brain. Studying amyloid buildup in Alzheimer’s disease can only be done through postmortem analysis or resource-intensive PET or MR scans that require radiotracer injections. Measuring amyloid amount in vivo is challenging due to the lack of specificity and resolution in images.
Experts call for a ‘screening radiologist’ – Radiology Business
Imaging-based screening for diseases has become a crucial component of medicine, though radiologists have little say in the decision-making process. Now, two industry MDs are calling for a new subspecialty in the profession, according to an article in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Advocating for a new expertise in the field, these experts believe a “screening radiologist” could help to “close the educational gap, untangle advocacy from science, and enable more effective radiology leadership in screening.” Read about other factors shaping the future of radiology.
Ultralow-dose CT proves viable for 3D printing – AuntMinnie Europe
CT images acquired at ultralow radiation doses can be used to produce 3D-printed models of wrist fractures that are just as useful as 3D models generated from standard-dose CT exams, according to research published in the European Journal of Radiology. A research team found that an ultralow-dose CT protocol yielded 97% lower radiation dose and enabled production of 3D-printed models that were deemed equivalent to those manufactured from standard-dose images for distal radial fractures.
Bedside EEG test can aid prognosis in unresponsive brain injury patients – Axis Imaging News
Assessing the ability of unresponsive patients with severe brain injury to understand what is being said to them could yield important insights into how they might recover, according to a team at the University of Birmingham in England. Research has shown that responses to speech can be measured using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique used to record electrical signals in the brain. The strength of these responses can be used to provide an accurate prognosis that can help clinicians make the most effective treatment decisions.
Call to cap radiology workload – Health Imaging
An American College of Radiology leadership expert is advocating to cap radiologists’ workloads and obligations in an effort to safeguard the health of patients and providers. He stated maximum shift lengths should not exceed 10 hours, with an hourly limit based on the type of cases and exams being interpreted. He also asserted that such restrictions should be based on scientific data and rooted in the desire to provide the best possible care for patients, according to his opinion piece in the Journal of the American College of Radiology’s special “provocative issue.”
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