Dear CT Insider,
Considering the past decade's extraordinary emphasis on radiation dose reduction, it seems unusual that no one has looked at the patient's body as a potential source of radiation protection. Now researchers are doing just that, studying a new micronutrient formula that's classified in the U.S. as a nutritional supplement and therefore available without a lengthy drug approval process.
BioShield is designed to be swallowed like a vitamin pill an hour before CT to protect against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Researchers are encouraged by multiple animal studies of the pill showing large reductions in mortality following even massive radiation doses. And thanks to new technologies enabling the quantitation of DNA double-strand breaks, plans are afoot on a global scale to perform the subtler kinds of studies that measure genetic damage and the formula's ability to prevent it.
If you haven't heard about this project before, it's because the story is available only here, in this issue's Insider Exclusive.
Also online today, a new study found that too many transferred emergency department patients are being rescanned for the flimsiest of reasons -- like the lack of a report. Find out more by clicking here.
Much effort is being spent on developing breast tomosynthesis scanners, and that's a good thing. But radiologists can easily overlook the value of plain old MDCT in breast imaging. Learn more about using what you already have by clicking here.
In cardiac CT, a new study found that chest pain patients cleared of significant stenoses lived free of cardiac events for three years and counting.
We invite you to scroll down for the rest of the news in your CT Digital Community.
