Dear AuntMinnie Member,
As 2011 draws to a close, it's an opportune time to step back and take a look at what a year it's been for medical imaging.
Despite nascent signs of a recovery, economic concerns continue to cast a shadow over the specialty. In the U.S., cuts in reimbursement have succeeded in slowing the once-torrid growth in imaging utilization, while radiology's entrepreneurial business model continues to show signs of weakness. Independent radiology groups are seeking strength in numbers by joining larger groups, while hospitals extend their control over radiology -- and radiologists.
On the technology side, 2011 was a year for exciting new developments that have the potential to change patient care dramatically. The first PET/MRI and digital breast tomosynthesis systems were cleared for market in the U.S., putting exciting -- albeit expensive -- new tools into the hands of radiologists.
Software continues to play an increasingly important role in the daily lives of imaging specialists. The first app that enables radiologists to read images off mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones was cleared in 2011, and image sharing via cloud-based services promises to free radiology of the problems created when patients show up with external studies on portable media such as CDs.
The debate over radiation dose was both serious and silly in 2011. As organized radiology, regulators, and vendors made progress in developing better systems for reducing and tracking patient dose, fears of radiation from medical imaging went viral after syndicated talk show host Dr. Oz advised his viewers to wear thyroid shields during routine screening mammograms. Both articles we ran on the controversy made the year's top 10 list.
And no discussion of controversy in radiology would be complete without mentioning the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of screening mammography. Breast screening's backers and its detractors dueled throughout the year with competing studies, frequently offering contradictory findings within weeks of each other. The only sure thing is that women of screening age (whatever that is) will continue to be confused in 2012.
So sit back and enjoy this year's top 10 list, which you can reach by clicking here. Have a safe and happy new year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2012!
