Dear Digital X-Ray Insider,
Like many of you, we've just returned from the RSNA 2011 meeting in Chicago, where we were heartened by the number of presentations on advanced digital x-ray technology.
Many of these presentations focused on digital tomosynthesis, which is carving out a role in the workup of patients with suspicious lung lesions. Tomo proponents believe the technology could eliminate the need to send some patients on to CT, saving radiation dose and conserving precious healthcare resources.
Two studies we're featuring in this edition of the Insider support that hypothesis. In our Insider Exclusive, a group of radiologists from Italy -- including tomosynthesis pioneer Dr. Emilio Quaia -- tracked the use of tomo with a digital radiography (DR) system in more than 300 patients, comparing its accuracy to conventional radiography and measuring the number of patients who were redirected from follow-up CT. Learn what they found by clicking here for an article you can read before the rest of our membership.
In the second study, Swedish researchers performed a similar analysis, this time tracking 200 patients. Like the Italian researchers, they found that tomosynthesis reduced the number of CT exams that were required in this population. Find out more by clicking here.
We're also featuring the following in your Digital X-Ray Community:
- The best imaging approach to take in children with febrile urinary tract infection
- A study that got lots of press -- but perhaps surprised no one in radiology -- when it cast doubt on the effectiveness of radiography-based lung cancer screening
- An article on a firm that has received $2.5 million in funding to develop miniature x-ray technologies
- A new angiography-based approach for measuring fractional flow reserve in cardiac patients
Check back in the community in the coming weeks for more coverage of new research in digital x-ray that was presented at RSNA 2011 -- we have a lot to tell you about!
