The utilization of advanced visualization technology in oncology imaging is demonstrating the power of applications that aid clinicians in the diagnosis, monitoring and evaluation of cancer.

For example, a preliminary study on the application of contrast-enhanced 3D sonography in Japan is demonstrating that it can successfully be used to evaluate the vascular patterns of focal liver tumors.

Compared with 2D sonography, 3D sonography has the advantages of depicting the precise locations of lesions and facilitating exact assessment of anatomic structures in three orthogonal dimensions.

Through the utilization of a microbubble contrast agent, researchers were able to enhance the spatial and contrast resolutions of 3D sonography sufficient to evaluate small vessels, such as those that characterize the neovascularity of tumors.

On the other side of the world, investigators at Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City used multiplanar reformations to evaluate the physical characteristics of renal tumors.

The research team retrospectively evaluated CT exam data from a 17-year period in an effort to uncover information about the growth rate of renal cell carcinoma. The results of their study may prove helpful in the management of incidentally found renal tumors, particularly for patients who are elderly or are poor surgical candidates.

If you took a well-earned break around the holidays, you may have missed our wrap-up of advanced visualization technologies from the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) 2008 scientific assembly. Check out our RSNA review to catch up on the host of new and improved software, as well as clinical insights into the practical applications of these groundbreaking tools, which were unveiled at the meeting.

In other news, if you or your group is interested in finding out more about the capabilities of advanced visualization technology head over to our Healthcare TechGuide and check out the variety of systems offered there.

Lastly, if you have a comment or report to share about the utilization of advanced visualization technology in your practice, please contact me at the address below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan Batchelor, Web Editor
jbatchelor@trimedmedia.com