Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Amid all the controversy over the radiation dose that patients are getting from medical imaging procedures, a new study published this month has frightening implications for interventional cardiologists. Researchers found that interventional cardiologists in Malaysia had five times the rate of cataracts compared to normal controls.
The lens of the eye is one of the most radiosensitive organs, and cataracts can form from prolonged radiation exposure. An international research team from several sites wanted to see if interventional cardiologists were more susceptible to cataracts, especially if they didn't use radiation protection tools.
Unfortunately, the group found a strong association, with some 50% of interventional cardiologists and nurses reporting early evidence of cataract formation. Although the study sample size was small, the results reinforce the need for staff training in the use of radiation protection gear ... and may indicate that current guidelines suggesting a "safe" level of radiation exposure need to be revised.
Learn more by clicking here, or visit our Cardiac Imaging Digital Community at cardiac.auntminnie.com.
Breast ultrasound contrast
In other news, ultrasound has become established as a complementary imaging modality to mammography, but what if you added contrast with subharmonic imaging? Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia wanted to answer just that question, and we're featuring an article on their findings in our Ultrasound Digital Community.
In a small pilot study, the researchers used a dynamic technique with subharmonic contrast ultrasound, producing images that showed gradual inflow patterns of contrast in blood vessels. They compared the technique to several other breast imaging modalities, including mammography with and without ultrasound.
What were their results? To find out you'll have to click here, or visit the community at ultrasound.auntminnie.com.
