Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Will medical imaging get drawn into the looming trade war between the U.S. and China? That's what many industry observers are wondering after a variety of imaging technologies such as CT and MRI scanners appeared on a list of 1,300 products manufactured in China that would be subject to 25% tariffs.
A U.S. federal agency released the list on Tuesday, stating that the tariffs were necessary to counter years of unfair trade policies practiced by the Chinese government. But the list has generated opposition from U.S. manufacturers worried about the impact a trade war could have on today's highly interconnected economies, as well as confusion over how the tariffs would be applied.
For example, would the tariffs apply to non-Chinese companies that manufacture scanners in China and then sell them in the U.S.? If so, how would the tariffs affect capital equipment purchasing among U.S. hospitals, if the price of a $1 million scanner suddenly increased by $250,000?
There are signs that the Trump administration is already starting to walk back talk of a trade war. It pointed out that the Tuesday announcement was merely a proposal and that hearings would be held in May, allowing business leaders to express their concerns; the tariffs would not be applied until after a 60-day comment period. News reports also indicate that the U.S. and China are negotiating behind the scenes, raising the possibility that Tuesday's announcement was simply a negotiation ploy by the Trump administration.
Read our coverage of this unfolding story by clicking here, and be sure to check back for new updates.
Second Life for radiology education
Radiology is constantly looking for new models for educating students and residents, and a group in Spain may have hit upon one of the most unique: setting up a radiology classroom in the Second Life virtual world.
Researchers created an introductory course on radiology within Second Life where participants were able to attend real-time lectures and workshops and interact with each other via an online chat. They then asked participants to evaluate their experience in the virtual world and how well it helped them learn about radiology.
On the whole, participants gave the virtual experience a thumbs-up, saying it was an effective learning environment that featured high-quality visualization and fostered collaboration. Learn more about how it worked by clicking here.
While you're in our Advanced Visualization Community, check out this story on how a computer-aided diagnosis algorithm performed in predicting the recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer by analyzing the volume of nodules.
New mammo guidelines
Finally, visit our Women's Imaging Community to learn about new mammography screening guidelines issued this week for high-risk African-American women. Two groups -- the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging -- have issued new guidance recommending that these women be assessed earlier, in their 30s. Learn more by clicking here, or visit the community at women.auntminnie.com.
