Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Is PACS at death's door? The idea that the traditional paradigm of radiology-centric image management is on its way out has been raised in several forums this year.
But not so fast, according to the PACSMan, PACS consultant Michael J. Cannavo, who believes that rumors of PACS' demise may be exaggerated. He believes that, sure, PACS has evolved from what it was even a few years ago, and will continue to evolve in the future. But it's premature to predict the technology's demise.
Why? For one thing, adoption of electronic health records -- widely seen as one of the forces driving medical images out of the hands of radiology -- isn't as widespread as many think. And the technical issues of integrating disparate IT systems pale in comparison to the challenges of integrating workflow across hospital departments -- as is required with IT-centric image management solutions.
Read more about Mike's thoughts by clicking here, or visit our Imaging Informatics Community at informatics.auntminnie.com. When you're done reading the article, let us know what you think in our PACS Forum by clicking here.
MRI for exercise and sleep
We're also featuring articles in our MRI Community on two new studies reflecting a full range of human activity, from exercise to sleep.
First up is a study by Canadian researchers who found that children with multiple sclerosis who exercise regularly are more likely to have smaller brain lesions on T2 MRI scans. The results suggest that strenuous physical actively could have a protective effect, although more research is needed. Learn more by clicking here.
In a second study, a group from New York used dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI on mice to assess the efficiency of the brain's waste-removal system in different sleeping positions. They found that the lateral -- or side-sleeping -- position was the most effective in clearing waste such as beta-amyloid and tau proteins, which have been linked to Alzheimer's disease and other pathology. Get the rest of the details by clicking here.
CT lung screening clearance
Finally, a major CT vendor has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance to market a lung cancer screening package with its products -- in what it is claiming is an industry first. The company believes the regulatory nod will enable it to provide better guidance and scanning tools to sites ramping up CT screening programs. Learn more by clicking here.
