Organization

Massachusetts General Hospital


Review: FDG PET assesses lung inflammation during acute lung injury

Clinical Studies | Tuesday, August 17 2010
FDG PET may be a valuable noninvasive method for gaining comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, as well as for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions, according to a review published in this month's American Journal of Roentgenology.
 

JACR: Advanced EMR search tools could improve radiology services

Industry News | Tuesday, August 10 2010
Automated retrieval of topic-specific and event-specific data according to schedule and care unit census can improve the efficiency of services delivered in radiology and may potentially improve the quality and safety of those services, according to an article in this month's Journal of the American College of Radiology.
 

Study: Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid can detect Alzheimer’s disease

Clinical Studies | Tuesday, August 10 2010
A “signature” consisting of three biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid was present in 90 percent of patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but also was found in more than one-third of cognitively normal older adults, according to a study in the August issue of Archives of Neurology.
 

Feature: Multi-channel cardiac MR seeks to compete with CCTA

Web Exclusives | Wednesday, August 04 2010
Written by Chris Kaiser
In MRI, the higher the magnetic field (1.5T or 3T) the better the signal-to-noise ratio, which translates into better image quality. While MRI provides unparalleled soft tissue contrast, the drawback is its temporal resolution. Whereas CT scanning of the coronary arteries takes mere seconds, MR imaging can take up to 20 minutes or even longer. The latest innovation to increase the speed of MRI is to employ multi-channel radiofrequency coils with parallel acquisition techniques.
 

JACR: New search tool useful for extracting data from EMR

Industry News | Friday, July 30 2010
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have developed a search tool called the Queriable Patient Inference Dossier that helps radiologists and other physicians extract useful data from a patient’s EMR in a timely and efficient manner, according to an article in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
 

JNCI: CTC is not cost-effective at current reimbursement rates

Top Stories | Wednesday, July 28 2010
CT colonography (CTC), or virtual colonoscopy, is not cost-effective if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy, based on a study published online July 27 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. However, the accompanying editorial noted that cost-effectiveness analyses are useful, but that they often cannot include some important considerations.
 

AJR: Lack of insurance coverage could prohibit wider CTC screening

Top Stories | Wednesday, July 21 2010
Patients who have previously refused colorectal cancer screening are willing to undergo CT colonography (CTC), or virtual colonoscopy, but are not willing to pay for the exam themselves when not covered by insurance, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
 

ASTRO announces research grant winners

Industry News | Thursday, July 15 2010
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) research evaluation committee has named the recipients of the junior faculty career research training award and the residents/fellows in Radiation Oncology Research Seed Grant Award.
 

JAMA: Most physicians don't report incompetent colleagues

Top Stories | Tuesday, July 13 2010
A survey of physicians finds that while most support the professional commitment to report other physicians who they feel are incompetent or impaired, such as from alcohol or drug use, when faced with this situation, many did not follow through on making a report, according to a study in the July 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
 

Siemens initiates expert CT rad dose panel

Industry News | Tuesday, June 29 2010
Siemens Healthcare has launched SIERRA (Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance) and established an expert panel to advance CT dose reduction.
 

Radiology: Dueling editorials re-ignite mammo feud

Top Stories | Tuesday, June 22 2010
A pair of editorials in the July issue of Radiology promises to revive the screening mammography controversy that followed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for breast cancer screening revised in November 2009. “The USPSTF guidelines are not based on scientific evidence. Women should be urged to begin annual breast cancer screening at the age of 40,” stated Daniel B. Kopans, MD.
 

CT Screening: Where Do We Stand?

Cover Story | Monday, June 21 2010
Written by C.P. Kaiser
Ten years ago, it was nearly impossible to go through the day without seeing an advertisement for whole-body CT screening. Today it’s a different story. The radiation dose exposure from CT scanning has come under intense scrutiny and the value of CT screening must be proved in rigorous trials before many payors, especially Medicare, will consider reimbursing for an exam.
 

ASE: Biomarkers may predict chemo-related cardiotoxicity

Conference News | Tuesday, June 15 2010
According to research presented during the 21st annual scientific sessions of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) in San Diego this week, cardiac troponin plasma concentrations and longitudinal strain can predict the development of cardiotoxicity in patients treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab chemotherapies.
 

Study: Brain MRI findings, genetic factors may be linked to Alzheimer's

Clinical Studies | Monday, June 14 2010
Two new genetic factors, in addition to previously studied genetic variants, may be associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and there may be an association between genetic factors and neuroimaging traits, according to a study completed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and published June 14 in the Archives of Neurology.
 

ASE: Ultrasound predicts heart disease for obese women

Conference News | Friday, June 11 2010
Women presenting with either obesity alone or in the presence of metabolic syndrome have high rates of abnormal ultrasound findings, despite being identified as low risk by traditional risk assessment tools, according to the results of the HAPPY Heart trial presented at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 21st Annual Scientific Sessions in San Diego this week.
 

Mass General taps Medrad for lung PET imaging research

Contracts & Installations | Monday, June 07 2010
Medical device provider Medrad and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston have entered into an agreement that will aid the hospital with its research in lung function using PET imaging.
 

SCCT selects five finalists for young investigator awards

Industry News | Monday, June 07 2010
The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) has named five finalists for its fourth annual Young Investigator Awards.
 

SIIM opens with imaging informatics year-in-review

Conference News | Thursday, June 03 2010
Written by Lisa Fratt
MINNEAPOLIS—The SIIM 2010 annual meeting opened with an overview of breakthroughs and advances in imaging informatics, including a sneak peek at highlights related to the eight learning tracks at the show: integrating IT and images, communication of patient data, 3D and processing of CT and MR, digital radiography, cloud-based storage, security and privacy issues, political aspects of healthcare reform and the role of informatics.
 

Study: Ultrasound may improve viability of implanted soft tissues

Clinical Studies | Tuesday, June 01 2010
Indirect low-intensity ultrasound stimulation may enhance muscle cell proliferation, metabolic activity and differentiation of cells and tissues. As a result, the method may increase survival of implanted soft tissue, said a study published online May 27 in the Journal of Tissue Engineering.
 
Web Exclusives

Feature: U.S. needs national strategy to curb imaging overutilization

Medical imaging overutilization--a growing concern in the U.S.--exposes patients to unnecessary radiation, while also adding to rising healthcare costs, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Radiology. In an interview, William R. Hendee, PhD, lead author, reviewed various methods by which medical imaging could be curtailed.

Radiology: Prelim study shows CE breast CT outperforms CT, mammo

Dedicated contrast-enhanced (CE) breast CT delivered significantly improved conspicuity of malignant breast lesions, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), compared with unenhanced breast CT and mammography, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology.

Radiology: Rad role may evolve as image-guided biopsies trend up

CT, ultrasound and MRI have helped shift biopsy techniques away from more invasive approaches toward image-guided percutaneous techniques, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology. The trend toward less-invasive approaches translates into enhanced safety and efficiency and could lead to more interaction between patients and radiologists.

CMS Webinar: Incentive payments to offset EHR adoption, not reimburse

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) EHR incentive payments are not considered reimbursement for money expended on EHR technology, but are intended to offset the cost associated with adoption and ongoing meaningful use, according to CMS during an Aug. 12 webinar.

CMS webinar: Eligible professionals can expect EHR incentives in 2011

Funding incentives for EHR use is the main goal of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) meaningful use initiative, and there are incentive programs for both hospitals and eligible professionals, according to Elizabeth Holland, health insurance specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services, who spoke during a CMS-sponsored webinar Aug. 8.

Webinar: Stage 1 of meaningful use is for quality reporting acclimation

Stage 1 requirements for meaningful use incentives aim to strike a balance between the overall goal of EHR use and widespread adoption, while avoiding added work, said Jonathan Teich, MD, PhD, chief medical informatics officer at Elsevier Health Services, during a HIMSS webinar titled “Meaningful Use: Safety and Quality of Care.”

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