Dear AuntMinnieEurope Member,
It's no surprise radiologists are confused about which gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are safe to use for MRI and in what quantity. The opinions of so-called experts vary widely, and even the global regulators have failed to reach a consensus. The possibility of being sued has added to the mood of uncertainty among end users.
The Maverinck thinks the fear over GBCAs has been overstated. At least 400 million doses have been injected into humans since the 1980s, and there is no firm evidence of systematic symptoms after recommended application, other than nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with impaired renal function, he notes. For his latest column, visit the MRI Community, or click here.
Major changes have occurred over recent years in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE), partly due to advances in imaging, but there are growing concerns over the potential overuse of diagnostic tests and possible overdiagnosis of PE. A new French study questions whether CT pulmonary angiography is needed to diagnose PE in low-risk patients presenting to the emergency department. Researchers tested a protocol that relied on clinical criteria without D-dimer testing or CT. Go to our CT Community, or click here.
Following a large survey that produced some alarming results, the European Society of Radiology's Working Group on Ultrasound has published guidelines on the risk of cross-infection in ultrasound, and they're worth a close look. You can do so here.
The importance of imaging informatics is growing fast, but training and accreditation systems have not kept pace and are still evolving. Dutch radiologist Dr. Paul Alga, PhD, discusses this topic with colleagues Dr. Sergey Morozov, PhD; Dr. Erik Ranschaert, PhD; and Dr. Laurens Topff. Get the full story here.
Virtual reality and augmented reality will almost certainly play a big part in the future of radiology. Market analyst Ulrik Kristensen outlines the key developments and the remaining challenges. Head to the Advanced Visualization Community, or click here.
