RADIOLOGY NEWS
»	Vytorin Misses Primary End Point in Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis Study [July 22, 2008] Merck and Schering-Plough presented interim results of the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) study, a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of combination ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin; Merck & Co, Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ, and Schering-Plough Corporation, Kenilworth, NJ) on clinical outcomes in roughly 1800 patients with aortic stenosis, and the results showed that the controversial cholesterol-lowering medication was no better than placebo in reducing the primary composite end point of aortic-valve and cardiovascular events.
»	Sperm Motility Before Varicocele Treatment Predicts Pregnancy [July 22, 2008] In infertile men undergoing varicocele embolization, sperm motility before treatment predicts their odds of siring a pregnancy, according to a report in the August issue of Radiology.
»	Gadolinium-Based Contrast Raises Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Risk [July 21, 2008] Gadolinium-based contrast material used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) increases the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), according to a report in the June issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
»	Cerebrovascular Complications Common in Left-Sided Endocarditis [July 17, 2008] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and use of neurochemical brain damage markers show that there is a high incidence of cerebrovascular complications in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis, Swedish researchers reported in the July 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
»	US Health Care Is A Mess, Candidates Agree [July 15, 2008] Barack Obama and John McCain agree that the US healthcare system is a mess. They agree Americans spend too much and get too little for it, and they agree that 47 million Americans without health insurance need coverage.
»	Increased Carotid Distension an Independent Predictor of Coronary Events [July 15, 2008] B-mode ultrasonography is a simple, noninvasive way to assess carotid distension, which is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the elderly, French researchers report in the July issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
»	Patients Often Report Hospital Adverse Events Not Found in Medical Record [July 14, 2008] New research suggests that there may be a disconnect between patients and hospitals when it comes to reporting adverse events.
»	Lymphotropic Virus May Improve Noninvasive Detection of Metastatic Prostate Cancer [July 11, 2008] Using an engineered adenoviral vector to mediate reporter gene transfer into prostate cancer cells, sentinal lymph node metastases can be visualized by direct positron emission tomography (PET) in a murine model of human prostate cancer.
»	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Hippocampal Volume Can Identify Patients with Alzheimer's [July 10, 2008] Automated volumetry of the hippocampus based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can discriminate between Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal aging, French researchers report in the July issue of Radiology.
»	MDS Sues Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Over Reactor Cancellation [July 09, 2008] MDS Inc said on Wednesday it has filed a C$1.6 billion ($1.58 billion) claim against Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the Canadian government for scrapping a reactor project that would have supplied the company with medical isotopes.
»	Capsule Endoscopy Image Quality Not Improved with Oral Bowel Preparation [July 08, 2008] In patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding undergoing exploration of the small bowel by capsule endoscopy (CE), image quality is not improved by bowel preparation with oral sodium phosphate (NaP) rather than fasting, results of a study published in the June issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy indicate.
»	Education Reduces Children's Need for Anesthesia During Radiotherapy [July 04, 2008] Among young patients with cancer, a psychoeducational intervention reduces the percentage of patients requiring anesthesia during radiation treatment, Swiss researchers reported in a June 4 issue of the BioMed Central journal Radiation Oncology.
»	Imaging Default Networks Differentiates Minimally Conscious States From Coma [July 02, 2008] New techniques that allow imaging of so-called "default networks" are helping to differentiate patients in a minimally conscious state or with locked-in syndrome (LIS) from those in a coma or persistent vegetative state, new research shows.
»	Radioimmunotherapy Targets Metastatic Melanoma Lesions in Phase I Trial [July 01, 2008] Promising findings from a phase I clinical trial indicate that melanin-binding monoclonal antibody labeled with rhenium-118 safely and effectively targets metastatic melanoma soft tissue lesions, investigators reported at the Society for Nuclear Medicine Annual meeting held in New Orleans.
»	US Medicare Proposes Changes for Imaging, Dialysis [June 30, 2008] The US government proposed payment changes in the Medicare health insurance program on Monday that could impact reimbursement of medical imaging, diagnostic testing, and dialysis providers.
»	Molecular Breast Imaging More Cost-Effective Than Magnetic Resonance Imaging Without Loss of Sensitivity [June 30, 2008] Research presented at the Department of Defense's annual Era of Hope breast cancer meeting indicates that molecular breast imaging (MBI) appears to have comparable sensitivity and specificity to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of breast cancers, but is more cost-effective.
»	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Bone Marrow Edema Predicts Erosive Progression in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis [June 24, 2008] In patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), bone marrow edema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predicts erosive progression, according to a report in the July Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
»	Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Reveals Coronary Vascular Dysfunction in Asymptomatic Diabetics [June 23, 2008] In a study of type 2 diabetics with no history or symptoms of heart disease, nearly all had evidence of coronary vascular dysfunction on positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.
»	Personalized Medicine Requires Regulatory Change [June 23, 2008] The ongoing explosion of information generated by recent revolutions in the "-omics"-genomics, proteomics, metabolomics-requires changes to be made in the way that therapies are developed, approved, and paid for if the potential of personalized medicine is to be realized.
»	Concerns Remain Over Heart Imaging Agents: US Food and Drug Administration [June 20, 2008] US health regulators remain concerned about the safety of contrast agents used to enhance echocardiogram heart imaging tests, according to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents released on Friday.
»	Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Low After Optic Neuritis If Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Normal [June 20, 2008] If initial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are normal, the odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) after an acute episode of optic neuritis are only 25%, results of a 15-year, prospective follow-up study indicate. The risk is lowest if features of optic neuritis are atypical, the investigators reported in the June Archives of Neurology, suggesting that prophylactic treatment can safely be withheld in the absence of other neurologic symptoms.
»	Computed Tomography, Lumbar Puncture Rule Out Subarachnoid Hemorrhage [June 20, 2008] Negative results on both computed tomography (CT) and lumbar puncture are sufficient to rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage, according to what authors said is the largest study to evaluate this current clinical practice in alert emergency department (ED) patients with acute headache.
»	High-Intensity Ultrasound Destroys Esophageal Tumors [June 19, 2008] Intraluminal high-intensity ultrasound appears to be an effective treatment for esophageal tumors, which are usually not amenable to curative resection, and can even achieve complete tumor necrosis, according to French researchers who are the first to use this approach in a small pilot study. Their findings are published online on June 5 by the Journal of Translational Medicine.
»	Stereotactic Radiosurgery Can Extend Survival in Small Recurrent Glioblastomas [June 19, 2008] Stereotactic radiosurgery is safe and effective in selected patients with recurrent small-sized glioblastomas, according to a report in the May 1 issue of Cancer.
»	Positron Emission Tomography Scanning Plays a Role in Radioimmunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma [June 18, 2008] In subsets of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) can be a valuable tool for selecting candidates for treatment with yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin; Cell Therapeutics, Inc, Seattle, WA) after relapse on standard chemotherapy, according to a study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine 2008 Annual Meeting.
»	Salvage Radiotherapy Prolongs Prostate Cancer Survival for Some [June 17, 2008] Men who have a prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy may benefit from early salvage radiation therapy, according to results of a retrospective cohort analysis. This strategy is most beneficial to patients with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time of less than 6 months, Dr Bruce T. Trock et al reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association for June 18.
»	Rapid Single-Positron-Emission Computed Tomography Cuts Cardiac Imaging Time in Half [June 17, 2008] A new means of performing gated single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion produces data in half the usual acquisition time, with no sacrifice in image quality, according to the results of a prospective multicenter study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine 2008 Annual Meeting.
»	Combination Gemcitabine and Radiation Modestly Improves Survival in Pancreatic Cancer [June 17, 2008] Gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lily and Company, Indianapolis, IN) combined with radiotherapy is associated with a small survival benefit over gemcitabine alone for localized unresectable pancreatic cancer, researchers reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 44th Annual Meeting.
»	Progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment Visualized on Positron-Emission Tomography [June 17, 2008] The use of molecular imagining might help clinicians monitor the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and help to identify people at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine 2008 Annual Meeting.
»	Carboplatin as Effective as Radiation in Preventing Relapse in Testicular Cancer [June 10, 2008] A single dose of carboplatin appears to be as effective as adjuvant radiotherapy in preventing disease recurrence among men with stage I seminoma after orchiectomy. In an abstract presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 44th Annual Meeting, researchers reported that carboplatin was also significantly more effective than radiotherapy in preventing contralateral testicular germ-cell cancers.
»	Sonothrombolysis Improves Outcomes in Patients with Ischemic Stroke [June 10, 2008] Sonothrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has a beneficial effect in patients with middle cerebral artery main stem occlusion, according to a report in the May issue of Stroke.
»	Positron Emission Tomography Scan Improves Preoperative Staging in Early Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer [June 03, 2008] Preoperative imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) appears to more accurately identify patients with mediastinal and extrathoracic disease in patients with resectable non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 44th Annual Meeting. PET combined with computed tomography (CT) was better than conventional imaging at identifying patients with advanced disease and possibly eliminating stage-inappropriate surgery.
»	Vaginal Brachytherapy as Effective as External-Beam Radiation in Endometrial Cancer, with Less Gastrointestinal Toxicity [June 02, 2008] Vaginal brachytherapy was found to be as effective as external-beam therapy in preventing disease recurrence in high-risk patients with endometrial cancer, according to data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 44th Annual Meeting. Patients receiving brachytherapy also experienced fewer adverse events and had a higher quality of life.
»	Genetic Polycystic Kidney Disease Associated with Bronchiectasis [May 28, 2008] Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) have an increased prevalence of radiographic bronchiectasis, according to a report in the May issue of Chest.
»	Three-Dimensional Aortic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Helps Detect High-Risk Plaque [May 28, 2008] Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3-D MRI) using a 3 Tesla system appears to be reliable and more accurate than transesophageal echocardiography for revealing aortic high-risk plaques in patients with acute stroke, German researchers reported in the May issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry.
»	Antioxidants May Compromise Cancer Therapy [May 27, 2008] A review of randomized trial data suggests that patients with cancer should avoid the routine use of antioxidant supplements as they may diminish the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation.
»	Algorithm Could Reduce Cranial Computed Tomography in Minor Pediatric Head Trauma [May 26, 2008] A new clinical decision rule with nearly 100% accuracy in ruling out intracranial injury in minor pediatric head trauma may help reduce unnecessary cranial computed tomography (CT), a multicenter team of physicians reported.
»	Senator Edward Kennedy Diagnosed with Malignant Glioma [May 23, 2008] Senator Edward Kennedy went home from the hospital Wednesday after receiving a diagnosis of malignant glioma earlier this week. He was hospitalized last weekend after suffering a seizure and underwent diagnostic testing at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
»	Sonography Should Be First Imaging Study for Suspected Appendicitis [May 23, 2008] Color Doppler ultrasound should be the first imaging examination in adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis, according to a study in Israel. The authors recommend that computed tomography (CT) be reserved for patients with inconclusive findings on ultrasound and for those with classical signs and symptoms for whom clinical suspicion remains high.
»	Short-Interval Follow-Up Mammograms for "Probably Benign" Lesions Have Low Sensitivity [May 22, 2008] Diagnostic short-interval mammograms obtained to follow patients with "probably benign" lesions have a low sensitivity for detecting cancers diagnosed within the following 12 months, according to a paper in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
»	Antiplatelet, Lipid-Lowering Therapy Associated with Absence of Embolic Signals on Transcranial Doppler [May 22, 2008] An analysis of baseline data from an ongoing study assessing the value of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in predicting stroke risk among patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis shows a negative association between the presence of embolic signals and antiplatelet and statin therapy.
»	Childhood Cancer Survivors at Increased Risk for Premature Heart Disease [May 21, 2008] Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease, and hence need to be closely monitored after their treatment and followed appropriately as they age, concluded the largest and longest study of this population.
»	Mastectomy Rates Have Risen Recently, As Has Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging [May 21, 2008] More women with early breast cancer are now opting for mastectomies than they were a few years ago and, at the same, the use of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased. Mayo Clinic researchers reporting the 2 trends speculate that they are related.
»	Adjuvant Radiation Shows Promise for High-Risk Radical Prostatectomy Patients [May 20, 2008] Adjuvant therapy increases the likelihood of cure in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and should be offered to all high-risk postprostatectomy patients, according to the findings presented at the American Urological Association 2008 Annual Meeting.
»	Ultrasound Added to Mammography Finds More Breast Cancer [May 15, 2008] In women at high risk for breast cancer, screening with ultrasound in addition to mammography increases the hit rate. The large American College of Radiation Imagining Network (ACRIN) 6666 trial, published in the May 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that both modalities detected 28% more cases of breast cancer than mammography alone. However, some cancers were not spotted with either modality, and the addition of ultrasound increased by 4 times the false-positive rate.
»	Brachytherapy Stent Benefits Patients with Advanced Esophageal Cancer [May 15, 2008] In patients with advanced esophageal cancer, brachytherapy using a self-expandable esophageal stent loaded with iodine-125 (I-125) seeds prolongs relief from dysphagia and extends overall survival, according to a study by Chinese researchers published in the May issue of Radiology.
»	High-Dose Brachytherapy Effective for Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Children [May 15, 2008] High-dose brachytherapy (HBRT), alone or in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), produces "excellent" local control rates in pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, according to a report in the April 19 issue of the BioMed Central journal Radiation Oncology.
»	Low Back Pain Guidelines Expanded to Include Interventional Procedures [May 14, 2008] The American Pain Society (APS) has expanded its evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain to include recommendations on surgery and interventional treatments.
»	Colonoscopic Competence Requires Significant Experience [May 13, 2008] Technical competence in performing screening and diagnostic colonoscopies is achieved only after participating in at least 150 cases, according to a report in the April issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
»	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Frequent Temporomandibular Joint Involvement in Juvenile Arthritis [May 13, 2008] Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but not ultrasound, is often found at the onset of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), according to Pennsylvania-based researchers.
»	Calcification Score Predicts Amputation With Peripheral Arterial Disease [May 12, 2008] The tibial artery calcification (TAC) score, assessed by multidetector computed tomography (CT), can identify patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who are at high risk for amputation, new research shows. In fact, in this regard, the TAC score is superior to traditional risk factors and an abnormal ankle-brachial index.
»	Cost—Not Evidence—Driving Shift in Cancer Screening [May 08, 2008] High-deductible health plans are gaining popularity in the United States, but a new study warns that the trend could be having a negative impact on cancer screening. The new insurance plans appear to be prompting patients to choose fully covered screening tests to avoid out-of-pocket expenses. The findings are published in the May 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
»	Incidental Findings on Cardiac Multidetector Row Computed Tomography Common for Healthy Adults [May 08, 2008] Incidental findings are common among healthy older adults who undergo cardiac multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT), according to a report in the April 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
»	Dose Reduction Strategy for Neuroradiology Computed Tomography Exams Successful [May 05, 2008] At the University of California, San Francisco, systematic use of tube current dose modulation for computed tomography (CT) examinations most often performed in the neuroradiology section has led to significant reductions in radiation doses without sacrificing image quality.
»	Fluoroscopy Not Reliable for Detecting Causes of Stridor in Children [May 01, 2008] Although airway fluoroscopy accurately diagnoses the cause of stridor in some children, its low sensitivity may necessitate further diagnostic evaluation of negative results, according to a report in the April issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
»	Ultrasound Useful in Detecting Chest Wall Invasion by Lung Tumor [May 01, 2008] Ultrasound examination is more sensitive than computed tomography (CT) scanning in assessing chest wall involvement in patients with lung cancer, according to findings published in the April issue of Chest.
»	Optic Nerve Ultrasound Detects Raised Intracranial Pressure in Head Injury [April 30, 2008] Ultrasound assessment of the diameter of the optic nerve sheath can be used as a bedside test for early diagnosis of raised intracranial tension in head injury, researchers from India report.
»	Imaging Studies Won't Trump Clinical End Points But Can Aid Drug-Development Decisions [April 29, 2008] They gathered to debate whether or not imaging studies could substitute for clinical end-point trials, but from the beginning both experts agreed that imaging modalities, be they computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), or carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements, are simply not ready to be used as substitutes for hard clinical end points, such as death, myocardial infarction, or stroke.
»	Researchers Point to Flaws in Recent Cancer Studies [April 28, 2008] Observational studies of treatment outcomes must be viewed with caution, investigators urge. In a report published online April 21 in Cancer, researchers showed that selection bias continues to be a major problem in observational data.
»	Fingolimod 3-Year Results Show Continued Low Relapse and Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis [April 25, 2008] Results from the 3-year extension of an earlier randomized trial of FTY720, or fingolimod (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), a still-investigational oral treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), show continued low rates of relapse and disease activity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers reported.