Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Virtual colonoscopy is gaining traction as an alternative to optical colonoscopy, but what if you were to add a molecular imaging component to the screening exam? Researchers wanted to find out, and we're highlighting their work in our Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community this week.
Although previous research has explored virtual colonoscopy with PET/CT, most of it has consisted of feasibility studies. A team from University College London went a step further, comparing PET/CT colonography to conventional VC and optical colonoscopy in real patients.
The group found that the new technique had several advantages, including one that patients might like. Find out what it is by clicking here for an article by international editor Eric Barnes.
In related news, Japanese researchers report on their work in trying to detect laterally spreading tumors, also known as "carpet" lesions. These types of lesions can have a high likelihood of harboring advanced disease, but they can be tricky to spot. Find out how they did it and what critics thought by clicking here.
Get these stories and more in the Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community at vc.auntminnie.com.
The art of OCT
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique carving out a role in a variety of clinical applications, such as vascular imaging, dermatology, and oncology. But researchers in Poland have found a novel use for the technology: examining fine oil paintings.
They've learned that OCT is uniquely suited to investigating the composition and origin of paintings without damaging the work, according to an article by copy and production editor Nicole Pettit. OCT tomograms have revealed whether a work of art is a forgery, or whether (and perhaps why) a painting received multiple touch-ups over the centuries.
Learn about this unique imaging application by clicking here, or by visiting our Molecular Imaging Digital Community at molecular.auntminnie.com.
