A smart algorithm has been trained on a neural network to recognize the appearance of breast cancer in MR images
Greg Freiherr

The use of smart algorithms has the potential to make healthcare more efficient. Sarah Eskreis-Winkler, M.D. presented data that such an algorithm — trained using deep learning (DL), a type of artificial intelligence (AI) — can reliably identify breast tumors in magnetic resonance imaging (MR) images.

Sooner or later, the bad guys are going to figure out that healthcare IT is where it is at — and that imaging has a key to get there.

That key has come from the mushrooming interest in enterprise imaging. It will turn with the coming increase in the cyber-attack surface.

This image depicts ABUS images with QVCAD results
Bob Foley

Imaging Technology News spoke with Bob Foley, vice president of sales and marketing of QView Medical, Inc., about the latest technology in automated breast ultrasound (ABUS). Foley has more than 25 years of experience in medical imaging, with breast cancer detection being his primary focus, and innovation has played a key role.
At RSNA 2018, Stratasys showed how 3-D printed models can help plan surgeries and assist in making complex diagnoses.
Konica Minolta’s Exa Platform provides the infrastructure for managing data across the imaging workflow.
Fujifilm’s Synapse 3D delivers clinical value through consistently accurate and fast image processing for radiology, cardiology and surgical pre-operational simulation.

The central premise behind enterprise imaging (EI) is giving physicians the resources they need to provide the best care for their patients. While much of the focus in enterprise imaging is on the technological tools that are used, the tools themselves will not prove useful without a guiding strategy for how they will be implemented. Providers, then, must first develop a plan detailing the objectives they wish to achieve.
Photo courtesy of US Electronics

The flat panel display market shows signs of maturing, however many new applications are available that can help to streamline workflow and enhance productivity for clinicians. Several new state-of-the-art displays were highlighted at the 2018 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, a few of which are highlighted here.

 

Windows-Based iPad Viewing Solution

The Department of Radiology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, the level 1 trauma center of VCU Health System located in downtown Richmond, Va., is at the forefront of academic radiology. With a wide range of exciting clinical, technological, educational and research initiatives, VCU Medical Center continues to be a leader of academic radiology departments and can provide patients with the best quality service available.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery has become the preferred radiation therapy option for patients with brain tumors at facilities like the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center, pictured here
GT Medical Technologies’ GammaTiles contain brachytherapy seeds placed in a structural offset to evenly distribute radiation dose to a tumor and protect surrounding healthy tissue.

Brain tumors are some of the most complicated forms of cancer to treat due to their extremely sensitive location. Surgery is the first choice when possible, as it guarantees removal of the tumor. Brain surgery is, however, an extremely invasive procedure and requires weeks to months of recovery time for the patient. Radiation therapy offers a minimally invasive alternative, but it comes with its own set of side effects and complications, including cognitive issues, fatigue, and hair and scalp problems, among others.

18th Canadian Association for Interventional Radiology Annual Meeting

Example of full-dose, 10 percent low-dose and algorithm-enhanced low-dose. Image courtesy of Enhao Gong, Ph.D.

One of the most controversial issues in radiology in recent years has been the use of gadolinium as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies announced Ethicon has launched a new global registry to collect and analyze real-world data on patients with soft tissue liver lesions ablated with the company’s Neuwave Microwave Ablation System. The company made the announcement at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR 2019), March 23-28 in Austin, Texas.

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