In a screening population at elevated risk, experts say their algorithm could reduce the number of scans required for manual interpretation by 34%.

“The most important finding of this study is that by using expert support by telemedicine, more patients with heart failure can gain the benefit of diagnostic ultrasound,” doctors wrote in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Among the more than 3,500 patients diagnosed with the disease, 0.9% had an ischemic stroke. But these patients were much more likely to have died at hospital discharge.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are at heightened risk for life-threatening venous thromboembolism, so clinicians should not hesitate to order imaging for the two conditions that jointly lead to it. 

Johns Hopkins researchers have demonstrated the use of photoacoustic imaging to guide catheter-based cardiac interventions such as radiofrequency ablations used to correct arrhythmias.

"This study presents a significant advancement in addressing a major unmet clinical need: the accurate arrhythmia localization in patients with a variety of heart rhythm disorders," one Johns Hopkins Medicine expert noted.

The president of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology said there are no shortfalls reported at this time, but the organization is keeping an eye on the situation as more countries implement travel bans.

Budapest, Hungary-based Kinepict Health says its software produces higher-quality images and may ultimately make the technology more powerful and safer for patients.