Dear AuntMinnie Member,
A new study has some frightening implications for National Football League (NFL) players and, indeed, anyone who is a fan of the sport. Researchers from Florida discovered that nearly half of a small group of former NFL players had signs of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on MRI scans.
A group from Florida State University used a diffusion-tensor imaging MR protocol to scan the brains of 40 former NFL players. They found that 43% had evidence of TBI -- a result that surprised the researchers.
The findings add fuel to the controversy over the health effects of football. The results could be especially powerful if they are also found in the thousands of young people who play the sport.
Read more by clicking here, or visit our MRI Community at mri.auntminnie.com.
US contrast approval
A long-awaited milestone occurred earlier this month, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to Bracco Diagnostics for radiology applications for the company's Lumason contrast agent. The agency's move opens up new markets for ultrasound contrast beyond the cardiology applications to which it had been restricted.
The FDA nod applies specifically to liver tumors in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. These patients can now be managed with ultrasound imaging, whereas previously CT or MRI had to be used.
How will the move affect the still-emerging market for ultrasound contrast? Senior Editor Erik L. Ridley provides an analysis, which you can read by clicking here, or visit our Ultrasound Community at ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
CT for Zika
Finally, visit our CT Community for a case report by Brazilian researchers who used CT to investigate brain anomalies caused by the Zika virus in infants with congenital microcephaly. You'll also find an article in the community about a clinical trial in Scotland that evaluated the impact of coronary CT angiography on patients with chest pain.
