CHICAGOIso-osmolar contrast media is not the solution to solve the major problem of renal failure after injection, according to a retrospective study presented at the 94th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). But more studies need to be conducted to definitively clarify the issue.

Multidetector CT angiography accurately identifies the presence and severity of obstructive coronary artery disease and subsequent revascularization in symptomatic patients. The negative and positive predictive values, however, indicate that CTA cannot replace conventional coronary angiography at present, according to a study published Nov. 27 online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, dobutamine stress testing is a useful diagnostic tool to evaluate decreased myocardial contractile reserve, according to a study in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Siemens Healthcare this week at the Radiological Society of North America meeting introduced its Somatom Definition Flash, a dual-source CT scanner that can scan the heart in less than a second, delivering less than 1 mSv of effective radiation dose. The scanner will be available for sale in the first quarter of 2009.

Vital Images, a provider of advanced visualization and analysis solutions, has launched Vitrea Web, a new exclusive solution for ViTAL Enterprise customers that provides remote access to all of its clinical applications.

CHICAGOOver the last seven years Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) of Boston has achieved an impressive feat. MGH contained growth in outpatient CT imaging volume. The hospital based its CT-diet regimen on computerized radiology order entry with decision support. Pragya Dang, MD, explained the system and quantified the results during a Tuesday afternoon informatics course at the 94th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

CHICAGOWhen the New England Journal of Medicine published the CorE-64 study in the Nov. 26th issue, which produced positive results for cardiac CT angiography, an accompanying editorial questioned whether the technology had enough clinical evidence to warrant widespread CMS reimbursements. Udo Hoffmann, MD, director of CT research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, explains the importance of the trial and analyzes the editorials commentary.

CHICAGOAfter adjustment for age and sex, intracranial calcification in the symptomatic arteryfound on a multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA)was not independently associated with infarcts in the symptomatic hemisphere, according to a study presented Monday at the 94th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).