Open or Wide Bore MR?
May 25, 2011
That’s the question researchers from Germany try to answer in the CLAUSTRO trial (start Feb 2011). According to the authors: “The goal is to analyze the rate of claustrophobic reactions and clinical utility of an open MR scanner in a randomized comparison with a recently designed short-bore but closed scanner with 97% noise reduction. This trial will be the first to appraise the potential for claustrophobia reduction and clinical relevance of open MR scanners in claustrophobic patients with a clinical indication for MR imaging. Furthermore, this trial will analyze and compare the cost-effectiveness of the two MR scanners, which is important in view of the enormous annual loss of healthcare productivity due to claustrophobia during MR imaging. Also, patient preferences and image quality will be analyzed. Thus, this randomized trial may have the potential to influence both the clinical and economical utilization of MR imaging.”
This is a very interesting trial that will yield a comparison between the two systems from a patient point of view, which is very important. The success of a good MR scan depends a lot on how comfortable the patient feels, given the fact that he/she has to lie still for quite some time.
For more information, please refer to: Reduction of claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging: methods and design of the “CLAUSTRO” randomized controlled trial
3T MRI in pediatrics
May 17, 2011
3T MRI is being increasingly performed for clinical purposes. The increased SNR is a significant advantage in pediatrics – improved spatial and temporal resolution assist in overcoming the major anatomic, physiologic and behavioural challenges of imaging children. 3T MRI has the potential to image all the systems in pediatrics. However, optimising the parameters with due consideration to specific pediatric features, such as the increased water content of non myelinated brain, is essential. The neonatal brain and pediatric spine are difficult to image at 3T. Several factors also limit cardiac imaging at present. Further improvements in coil technology and newer sequences may help overcome the challenges that remain. On the other hand, some 3T artefacts inherent to specific anatomic regions, like the dielectric effects encountered in adult abdominal imaging, are less problematic in pediatrics due the smaller size.
For more information, see this white paper
Standardized practices and 3D ultrasound imaging
April 9, 2011
Anyone that has worked with ultrasound imaging knows how difficult it is to recognise structures with the naked eye. Training and experience play a very important role in interpreting those images, and, most importantly, in recognising anomalities.
A recent study by researchers from California has shown that detailed instruction in obtaining 3DUS images of fetal profiles improved the image quality obtained by phisicians. Teaching physicians in a standardized way may help improve the use of 3DUS in clinical practice for a broader spectrum of pathologies: for instance, in image guidance for radiotherapy & brachytherapy in gyneacology, breast, prostate and other cancer types.
