If you missed seeing Watson (IBM’s artificial intelligence computer system, capable of answering questions posed in natural language) on the television show Jeopardy! last year, he outplayed, outlasted and outperformed his game show counterparts, besting his nearest challenger by $53,147. And while winning a game show is not quite the same as accurately diagnosing and treating a patient, the potential opportunities and applications of Watson in healthcare, and in radiology specifically, appear bright.



Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) emerged as a new way to treat patients in the late 1990s and garnered attention because it offered the possibility to avoid radiating healthy tissue with more accuracy than conventional radiation therapy techniques. As a highly conformal 3-D therapy, its precise targeting of a tumor allows higher radiation doses to be delivered more safely.



Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast continues to get more play as an important adjunct to mammography in screening for cancer, as its diagnostic value is recognized particularly for young women with dense breast tissue.



Our hospital, Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill., recently implemented digital radiography (DR) systems in our general radiology rooms, emergency department (ED) and outpatient imaging center. We expected to achieve a more efficient imaging workflow — but the improvements were even more dramatic than we expected.



Digital mammography (DM) is a field in which advances are constantly being made and new trends evolve. During a scientific session at RSNA 2011, John M. Lewin, M.D., discussed recent trends and how they have changed during the past year.


January 31, 2012 — At the upcoming February meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR) in Orlando, Fla. TomTec will introduce its 2-D Cardiac Performance Analysis magnetic resonance (MR) software product. The tool to quantify myocardial function and deformation based on regular cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

January 31, 2012 — Since its launch less than a year ago, more than one million computed tomography (CT) scans have been contributed to the American College of Radiology (ACR) Dose Index Registry (DIR) and compiled for analysis. The DIR currently has 326 registered facilities including private practices, hospital-based facilities and academic centers.

January 31, 2012 — Healthcare imaging company Barco launched its new European Image.Care Healthcare Helpdesk service. Image.Care promises faster response times and a better local level of services across Europe for Barco flat panel displays.

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