Dear AuntMinnie Member,
A new study from Italy suggests that clinicians using ultrasound to screen for signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may not have to scan the entire leg to spot the condition.
In an article published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers reported that a simpler technique using ultrasound to scan two points along the leg produced results comparable to whole-leg ultrasound, according to an article by staff writer Erik L. Ridley in our Ultrasound Digital Community.
The paper recommends that clinicians can use the two-point technique in conjunction with other screening tools to rule out anticoagulation therapy in patients with negative tests. Find out more by clicking here, or go to ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
Breast MRI and mastectomy rates
In other news, new clinical research demonstrates that breast MRI prior to surgery may not lead to higher mastectomy rates after all.
Earlier studies found that facilities that began scanning breast cancer patients before surgery saw their mastectomy rates go up, perhaps due to the modality's finding additional cancer. But the new study indicates that while some patients may indeed opt for mastectomy due to breast MRI findings, others are reassured by the modality and choose breast conservation.
Get the rest of the story by clicking here, or visit our Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
