Dear AuntMinnie Member,
MRI could be a good alternative imaging modality for pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis, especially for emergent patients being seen at adult healthcare facilities.
That's according to a new article we're featuring this week in our MRI Digital Community. Texas researchers wanted to see how MRI performed relative to CT and ultrasound, two modalities that are commonly used for appendicitis diagnosis but have drawbacks for pediatric patients.
The group found that MRI was comparable to ultrasound and could be a suitable choice when ultrasound isn't available. MRI also doesn't expose pediatric patients to radiation, as does CT.
Learn more by clicking here, or visit our MRI Digital Community at mri.auntminnie.com.
Soothing mammography
Next up, we bring you a novel idea for making mammography exams more palatable for women: turning them into a soothing experience by adding landscape scenes, aromatherapy, and natural sounds.
The idea is to improve screening compliance by replacing the sterile, clinical atmosphere of breast screening with an experience that's more akin to a day at the spa. The environments are offered as a commercial package by GE Healthcare, and researchers from Florida wanted to see if they actually worked in terms of reducing the discomfort and anxiety levels in women being screened.
The group found that the suites did, indeed, function as advertised, and they also improved the quality of images acquired in the rooms. Find out why by clicking here, or visit our Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
CT perfusion for esophageal tumors
Finally, visit our AuntMinnie Middle East section for a new article on the use of CT perfusion for evaluating esophageal cancer.
In a study presented at last week's European Congress of Radiology (ECR), researchers from Turkey found that CT perfusion's ability to analyze blood flow could make it a preferred alternative to PET/CT for staging esophageal cancer. In particular, CT perfusion detects the changes caused by angiogenesis as tumors build new blood supply networks.
Read about their conclusions by clicking here, or visit the section at middleeast.auntminnie.com.
