Dear X-Ray Insider,
Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, may seem like a remote threat now, given that more than a year has passed since its first global outbreak. However, the disease that infected many healthcare workers and took the lives of 774 patients in a matter of months could re-emerge in humans at any time, and spread again around the world with daunting speed.
Fortunately, the medical literature is yielding important insights on how we can be better prepared for the next outbreak -- with radiography playing a major role.
In fact, plain x-rays taken at presentation in SARS cases can effectively predict which patients are going to suffer the worst outcomes from the infection, according to a new study.
Chest radiography is also a key element in a new clinical prediction rule developed by Hong Kong researchers, based on their difficult experience with SARS. For a detailed look at these recent studies, see this month's X-Ray Insider Exclusive.
You'll also find links to other interesting stories we've posted recently in the X-Ray Digital Community -- including an overview of computed radiography's enduring popularity, and a story on the long-term decline in cancer risk among radiation workers -- in the list below.
