Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Ultrasound is commonly used as a follow-up modality to distinguish between malignant and benign breast lesions. But Chinese researchers found that sonography with an automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) performed even better than handheld ultrasound for this task.
While handheld ultrasound does a great job of visualizing lesions that can be hard to see on x-ray mammography, it does have some shortcomings. Ultrasound can be time-consuming, and results can vary based on the skill and technique of the operator.
ABVS overcomes these limitations while delivering results that are comparable to handheld ultrasound. Our article on the study was the most-viewed story on AuntMinnie.com for the week.
More articles like this can be found in our Ultrasound Community.
CDS and appropriate use
Meanwhile, researchers from Colorado have shown how the use of clinical decision-support (CDS) software can decrease orders for inappropriate advanced imaging.
They examined the rates of appropriate imaging over a five-month period, during which referring physicians submitted orders using CDS software. While the researchers described the improvement in appropriate imaging as "modest," it was statistically significant, and use of CDS software could save millions of dollars in healthcare costs if implemented across a large health system or even nationwide.
Get this story and more in our Imaging Leaders Community.
Minnies 2019 is waiting for you
Finally, we're pleased to announce the launch of the 2019 edition of the Minnies awards, our annual event recognizing excellence in radiology.
The Minnies are now in their 20th year, and they enable our members to recognize the contributions of their colleagues to the field of medical imaging. Categories range from Most Influential Radiology Researcher to Best Radiology Mobile App and span radiology educators, devices, software, and scientific papers.
We're currently accepting nominations from our members for all categories, so be sure to submit your nominations today. And don't forget to tell your colleagues!
