Industry Trends

Methods used in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:55:02 +0000

We’re offering a free e-book called “Modern Technologies of Ultrasound Examination in Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease,” which details various techniques that endocrinologists use to diagnose thyroid disease. Here’s an excerpt from the bookwritten by Russian doctors.

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Wed, 2012-05-09

Automated Breast Ultrasound Far Faster than Hand-held

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:46:18 +0000

A recent post by Marijke Vroomen Durning on Diagnosticimaging.com reported that automated breast ultrasounds take an average of only three minutes of physicians’ time, compared to 20-30 minutes for a hand-held ultrasound. The findings are the result of researchers at theGeorge Washington University Medical School in Washington, DC.

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Mon, 2012-05-07

When to Perform a Thyroid Ultrasound

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:05:57 +0000

In our free ebook, Modern Technologies of Ultrasound Examination in Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease, the authors explain the situations when an ultrasound examination should be performed. The following is an excerpt from the book.

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Tue, 2012-05-01

Standardization Needed for Breast Density

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:12:55 +0000

In a recent article, DiagnosticImaging.com spoke with Kwan-Hoong Ng, a biomedical imaging professor at the University of Malaya Research Imaging Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, about what the medical industry currently understands about breast density and why standardization is vital. The following is a part of the full article that can be found here

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Fri, 2012-04-27

Ultrasound Prevents Unnecessary Appendectomies

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:19:23 +0000

MedScape.com has reported that ultrasound and CT scans can be used to prevent unnecessary appendectomies in young children and girls older than 10.

The report was based on Richard G. Bachur, MD, chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston, MA, and colleagues’ findings published in Pediactrics.

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Mon, 2012-04-16

FDA approves widespread use of ABUS

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:50:08 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the widespread use of an automated ultrasound system for breast cancer screenings.

ABCNews.com reported he FDA reviewed the safety and effectiveness of the automated breast ultrasound (ABUS), a device that uses an automated, Xerox-like system to get ultrasound images of breast tissue. ABUS is intended to screen women with dense breast tissue, which makes it easy for tumors to hide on traditional mammograms.

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Fri, 2012-04-13

Ultrasounds and MRIs detect more breast cancer, study says

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:49:30 +0000

A new study, by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, found that adding ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) tests to annual mammogram screenings can increase cancer detection in women with a higher-than-average risk of the disease.

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Wed, 2012-04-04

Ultrasound emerging as an effective means of diagnosing MSK pathology

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:18:30 +0000

An article recently published on itnonline.com states that over the past two decades, MSK ultrasound has emerged as an effective means of diagnosing MSK pathology. The article refers to a study in the February issue of the Journal of American College of Radiology which states that the volume of musculoskeletal ultrasound increased among non-radiologists more than radiologists themselves between 2000 and 2009.

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Fri, 2012-02-17

3 Points on Ultrasound for Pain Management

brad — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:55:30 +0000

Recently on beckersorthopedicandspine.com, Abby Callard wrote an interesting article entitled “5 points on Ultrasound for Pain Management”. She discusses the future of ultrasound technology for pain management in both diagnostic and procedural applications with Michael Gofeld, MD.

1. Ultrasound results in increased diagnostic specificity.

“MRI is the most common imaging technology used in musculoskeletal diagnosis; however it is a static tool, says Dr. Gofeld.”

Dr. Gofeld states that while MRI is the most common imaging technology used in musculoskeletal diagnosis, it is a “static tool” that produces a “snapshot of the moment” and does not show how nerves and joints are working in motion to show nerve impingements or entrapments, for example. An ultrasound can do this, and unlike MRI it can also “pick up superficial layers, small nerve injuries and anatomical structures hidden by surrounding scars and metallic hardware.”

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Wed, 2011-11-30

Medical Imaging Software Not Meeting Most Ultrasound Directors' Standards

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:09:30 +0000

As ultrasound usage continues to grow in emergency departments, ultrasound directors feel their billing and exam management programs are struggling to meet their demands. Here is an interesting survey on ultrasound image and exam management we thought we’d share. UltraLinq polled 122 ultrasound directors throughout the US to see how ultrasound was being used and how well their exams were being managed.

The survey showed:

“… 40% of the departments indicated they billed for less than 1/3 of these exams, while only 20% claimed to be billing for “Mostly All” of their exams. Those that bill for the minority of exams cited a variety of reasons including poor image quality, lack of credentialing and inadequate departmental documentation.”

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Tue, 2011-11-01

Is Ultrasound Disrupting Inefficiencies in Healthcare?

brad — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:38:56 +0000

Are major healthcare institutions exceeding the level of care most patients need? Clayton M. Christensen, MBA, a Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, seems to think so. He discussed disruptive innovation and how it applies to healthcare in his keynote address, “The Innovator’s Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Healthcare,” at the CHIME 2011 Fall CIO Forum.

Christensen uses the emergence of ultrasound for clinical applications as an example of a technology “disruptive” to the inefficient standards of

modern healthcare. Compared with other imaging systems, ultrasound is an inexpensive, simpler, more convenient product that ultimately lets low-cost professionals provide sophisticated services in an affordable setting. An article entitled “Healthcare needs to become more disruptive and simple” recently posted on CardiovascularBusiness.com explains:

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Thu, 2011-10-27