New data support VC; MRI and child abuse; more on meaningful use

Dear AuntMinnie Member,

This month one of the largest studies of its kind examines virtual colonoscopy's ability to find abnormalities outside the colon during routine screening exams. Researchers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, found that the modality detected nearly as many cancers outside the colon as within it.

What's more, working up patients with potentially serious extracolonic abnormalities didn't break the bank. Learn more by clicking here, or visit our Virtual Colonoscopy Digital Community at vc.auntminnie.com.

Whole-body MRI and child abuse

Meanwhile, in our Pediatric Imaging Digital Community, a new study compares whole-body MRI to radiography-based skeletal surveys for assessing signs of child abuse.

Although whole-body MRI performed well in some respects, it had low sensitivity for some types of injuries. Learn more by clicking here, or visit the community at pediatric.auntminnie.com.

More on meaningful use

Finally, a story in our Imaging Leaders Digital Community addresses what's become the hottest phrase in healthcare information technology: "meaningful use."

The U.S. government has said that it will provide stimulus funding to physicians and facilities that offer evidence that they've achieved meaningful use of healthcare IT, but the devil has been in the details. A presentation at this week's American Healthcare Radiology Administrators annual meeting offers some clarity to the situation -- get the details by clicking here, or visit the community at leaders.auntminnie.com.