Dear Ultrasound Insider,
Multiple imaging studies are often ordered to evaluate women presenting with acute pelvic symptoms. But are all of these additional ultrasound, CT, and MRI exams really necessary?
Perhaps not, according to research from Stony Brook University Medical Center. In a study of women presenting with emergent acute pelvic pathology who received more than one imaging study in the first 24 hours after admission, 37% of patients were diagnosed on the basis of their initial scan. Subsequent exams only confirmed the initial diagnosis in these patients.
Our coverage of the research is the subject of this month's Insider Exclusive, which you have access to before it's published for the rest of our AuntMinnie.com members. To learn more, click here.
In other articles we're featuring this month in your Ultrasound Digital Community, a handheld ultrasound scanner was shown to accurately assess major heart functions during point-of-care heart studies. But the news isn't all good for handheld ultrasound. Another study found that handheld echocardiography devices do not lead to shorter hospital stays.
In ob/gyn ultrasound developments, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada has issued new guidelines for the use of ultrasound in twin pregnancies. Get the details by clicking here.
Meanwhile, 3D transvaginal ultrasound was shown to be superior to hysterosalpingography in women with uterine abnormalities, yielding similar or better accuracy and lower cost and morbidity. Click here to learn more.
In addition, learn why training in 3D/4D ultrasound and fetal echocardiography might be lacking in some maternal-fetal medicine fellowships.
You can also find out what Indian radiologists are doing to tackle the hot-button issue of sex-selective abortions in an article by contributing writer Frances Rylands-Monk.
Finally, check out the first in a series of new columns on the practice of ultrasound by ultrasound veteran Dr. Jason Birnholz.
Do you have an idea for a topic you'd like to see covered? As always, please feel free to drop me a line.
