Computed Tompgraphy News November 2006

CTSim

The Open Source Computed Tomography Simulator

Posted 2006-11-02 23:24:13

In a finding that could change the landscape of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, new research shows that annual screening using computed tomography (CT) detected lung tumors at their earliest stage in 85 percent of patients.

Posted 2006-11-03 00:03:02

THE AMERICAN Heart Association (AHA) recently published a scientific statement on the utility and limitations of cardiac computed tomography (CT) systems for imaging of coronary heart disease (Circulation, October 17, 2006) after reviewing 245 scientific papers on the topic.

Posted 2006-11-03 00:05:07

A new study published in JAMA found that a multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan, a "fifteen-seconds" heart imaging modality, can accurately identify those patients who are at the greatest risk for acute coronary syndrome.

Posted 2006-11-03 00:15:18

Discusses methods for diagnosing asbestos lung disease and mesothelioma and the usefulness of CT.

Posted 2006-11-03 00:23:08

The results of a clinical study comparing Isovue®-370 (iopamidol injection), marketed by Bracco Diagnostics Inc. in the United States, and Visipaque™-320 (iodixanol injection), marketed by GE Healthcare in the United States, in renally Impaired Patients undergoing Computed Tomography (IMPACT) showed no significant difference in the rate of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) between the two agents.

Posted 2006-11-03 12:00:10

The diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice CTCA for ruling out the presence of significant coronary stenoses in patients undergoing valve surgery is excellent and allows CTCA implementation as a gatekeeper for invasive CCA in these patients.

Posted 2006-11-14 20:17:52

Three-dimensional computed tomography colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, is an accurate screening method for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the November issue of the journal Radiology.

Posted 2006-11-21 12:03:22

A study using computed tomography to image the cervical spine and identify which radiographic findings predict failure of non-operative treatment.

Posted 2006-11-21 12:08:10

This podcast discusses cutting edge research in CT scanning (computed tomography) and is aimed at radiologists, radiology technologists, and other healthcare professionals. Free registration required.

Posted 2006-11-21 12:13:24

The team used modern forensic techniques to confirm it was scurvy that doomed the men. Using an advanced form of CT scan called multidetector computed tomography, they studied bones of six of the settlers. The scans revealed evidence of skeletal lesions and bleeding into the joints and bones, telltale signs of the disease.

Posted 2006-11-21 12:28:23

A preliminary study suggests that high-resolution computed tomography (CT) modeling allows surgeons to custom-design acrylic implants prior to reconstructive surgery for patients with severe defects in their faces and eye cavities. Such implants appear to offer excellent aesthetic results and are well tolerated over the long term, according to a report in the November/December issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Posted 2006-11-24 00:36:38

Article reviews the clinical and imaging clearance of the thoracic and lumbar spines of blunt trauma victims and the evolution of these strategies with the use of new imaging technologies.

A comprehensive literature search was performed, and articles identified were critically appraised.

Twenty papers were identified, 12 directly comparing computed tomography screening with plain X-rays. Evidence-based protocols are presented. The evolution of imaging strategies in response to new technology is described.

Thoracolumbar spine screening is best done using reformatted images acquired when scanning the chest and abdomen of high-risk multi-trauma patients. If computed tomography is not clinically indicated for investigation of other injuries then plain films are the first line investigation.

Posted 2006-11-24 00:49:23

phoenix|x-ray announced that it has been awarded theGlobal Technology Award 2006 in the category “Best Inspection/X-ray system” for its novel 160kV nanofocus® computed tomography system nanotom®. The award was presented by Global SMT & Packaging Magazine during Assembly Technology Expo in Rosemont, Chicago.

The compact system consists of a granite base, a 160-kV high-power nanofocus X-ray tube, and a digital detector with 5-Megapixel resolution. The nanotom to analyze samples that are up to 120 mm (4.7 in.) in diameter and weigh up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs) with voxel-resolution of less than 500 nm (0.5 microns).

Posted 2006-11-24 00:51:42

Multidetector CT scanner speeds diagnosis and treatment of patients. One of its many uses is to perform CT coronary angiography. Multidetector CT has generated excitement within the cardiology and radiology community as it provides clear pictures and takes less time than other non-invasive techniques, including conventional spiral and electron-beam CT which can take up to an hour or more. This atlas presents over 160 illustrations, with 116 in color and illustrates the capacity of multidetector CT for the analysis of the anatomy of the coronary arteries.

Posted 2006-11-24 04:43:55

Chelmsford, Mass.-based Mercury Computer Systems, a provider of computing systems and software for data-intensive applications is teaming with the Institute of Medical Physics (IMP) of Erlangen, Germany to utilize the IBM/Toshiba/Sony-developed Cell Broadband Engine (BE) processor,

The Cell BE processor contains eight synergistic processing elements with peak performance in excess of 180 GFLOPS (180 billion floating-point operations per second) with a 25GBps memory bandwidth.

They estimate that CT scan reconstructions can be increase 100 times the current speed of microprocessor-based reconstructions.

Posted 2006-11-30 13:30:44

Vik S posted: Earlier, the diagnosis of kidney stones did not involve information regarding the fragility of the stones. This made it impossible to determine the intensity and number of shock waves required during Lithotripsy to disintegrate the stone. Many patients would end up receiving more shock waves than was necessary to break up their stones. To regulate the use of SWL, investigators have found that computed tomography (CT) images of kidney stones can reveal significant internal structure in stones--structure that is likely to be useful in predicting stone fragility.

The Indiana Kidney Stone Institute in collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine and National Kidney Foundation of Indiana sponsored a study to determine whether available clinical helical CT is able to reveal internal structure of kidney stones. Forty candidates, above 18 years of age, men as well as women, were enrolled in the study in July 2002, to be followed up till February 2006.

Eligibility was based on the ability to suspend respiration for at least 20 seconds, and those needing a computed tomography scan prior to their stone surgical treatment. Pregnant women and candidates with a history of abdominal malignancy were excluded.

Although, Helical computed tomography was commonly used in the assessment and treatment of kidney stone patients, its full potential to differentiate among stone types by structure or radiodensity was yet to be realized. CT scans were usually conducted only to identify the existence of the stone and to indicate its size and location. The use of soft tissue windows failed to reveal the structure within the kidney stone.

Treatment of Kidney stones is dependant on three factors- the type, size and location of the kidney stone. Shock wave Lithotripsy is used to break down stones into gravel that may be naturally removed from the body. However, shock waves may not be ideal to break down certain stones, or due to the complicated location of a stone it may have to be removed through more invasive surgical means. In addition, SWL is not without complications with long-term risks of hypertension and renal insufficiency.

Also, kidney stones vary in their SWL fragility. With the continuous advancement of technology for clinical CT, the latest generation of multidetector helical CT machines has considerably improved image resolution over single-detector CT technology. These quad-slice scanners have 4 contiguous, parallel rows of x-ray detectors combined with a higher gantry rotation speed which increase the speed of data collection by a factor as high as 8 over the conventional single-slice spiral CT scanners.

The latest technology makes for higher spatial resolution along the longitudinal axis of the patient. The scans can also be performed much faster, which means improved temporal resolution and less motion artifacts. Thus, CT scan has the ability to both predict stone composition and delineate structural features necessary to predict stone fragility to lithotripter shock waves.

Posted 2006-11-30 13:32:46

CHICAGO -- In a new twist on the slogan “milk does a body good,” radiologists are testing use of the dairy staple as a contrast agent in gastrointestinal imaging exams—with excellent results. The researchers reported their findings today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“We are able to achieve similar bowel distension and enhancement as we see with the commonly used contrast agent, VoLumen,” said Lisa R. Shah-Patel, M.D., a radiology resident at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. “In addition, we found that patients are more willing to drink milk because it is part of their daily lives, and they know what to expect.”

Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the gastrointestinal tract is often done for abdominal pain. When the condition calls for visualization of the small intestinal wall, a negative oral contrast agent should be used. VoLumen is a barium-based oral contrast agent that works with intravenous contrast to allow better visualization of the bowel wall and clearer delineation between the bowel cavity and soft tissue.

When milk is used, the milk-filled intestinal cavity appears dark, while the intestinal wall appears bright due to intravenous contrast enhancement. The dark intestinal cavity contrasting with the bright intestinal wall makes any evidence of disease on the bowel wall more visible.

The researchers studied 179 adult patients undergoing CT with oral and intravenous contrast for abdominal discomfort to compare cost effectiveness and patient tolerance for whole milk versus VoLumen. Sixty-two patients received VoLumen, and 117 received milk. Of the 57 VoLumen patients who completed a subsequent questionnaire, 24 (42 percent) experienced abdominal discomfort such as cramps, diarrhea and nausea, while only 27 (23 percent) of the 117 patients who received milk reported abdominal discomfort.

Overall, milk was found to be just as effective as VoLumen in bowel distension (expansion) and bowel-wall conspicuity (enhancement). One important difference is the price. VoLumen costs $18 per patient, while whole milk costs $1.39 per patient.

“There are several advantages to milk. Patients are more willing to drink milk than VoLumen, and it costs a fraction of the price,” Dr. Shah-Patel said. “We hope that substituting milk for other contrast agents will reduce the number of people who refuse imaging tests because they do not want to drink the oral contrast, especially children.”

Co-authors are Chi Wan Koo, M.D., Jeanne W. Baer, M.D., and David H. Frager, M.D.

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© 1983-2006 Kevin M. Rosenberg, M.D.