Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Are lung cancer screening programs worth the trouble? It's not an easy question to answer, according to a presentation at this week's International Society for Computed Tomography (ISCT) 2016 Symposium in San Francisco.
If you can put up with the extra hours, expense, and administrative work, though, these programs can make a real difference in patient outcomes, explained Dr. Jared Christensen of Duke University. Learn how to make your lung cancer screening program a success by clicking here for our report by International Editor Eric Barnes.
Developing a master CT protocol framework can make radiology departments more efficient in their daily operations, according to another ISCT 2016 talk by Dr. Myron Pozniak of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Click here for Associate Editor Kate Madden Yee's coverage of Dr. Pozniak's four tips for developing a master CT protocol concept.
Is CT perfusion dead beyond the head? A debate at ISCT 2016 sought to address whether the benefits are worth the radiation dose beyond its well-established indication in the brain. Find out who won the debate by clicking here. You can also access this story, as well as additional ISCT 2016 news, by visiting our CT Community at ct.auntminnie.com.
Supine breast MRI in the OR
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital are reporting promising results from performing supine breast MRI in the operating room (OR) immediately after breast conservation surgery. In a new study, the group reported that supine MR images showed additional information on breast deformity and tumor position compared with a traditional preoperative prone MRI.
As a result, lead author Dr. Eva Gombos and colleagues believe that the technique may help find and assess residual tumors, and may also obviate the need for follow-up surgery. Click here for our report by Features Editor Wayne Forrest, or check out our MRI Community at mri.auntminnie.com.
IBM's new Watson initiative
IBM has taken a big step toward commercializing its Watson artificial intelligence technology in imaging applications. The vendor announced Wednesday that it has teamed up with a broad spectrum of partners to help train, test, and deploy Watson for use in a wide range of organ systems and disease states.
Who will IBM be working with and when does the firm hope to bring the first applications to market? Click here for our coverage, or visit our Imaging Informatics Community at informatics.auntminnie.com.
