MRI Machine Falls, Kills Worker
At the University of Utah Health, a contracted worker was moving an MRI when the machine fell and killed him. The accident occurred at a loading dock as the machine was being moved outside of the building from the fourth floor to the first floor. The injured man was sent to the Emergency Department at… Read more
Study Finds Over 99% Of Knee X-Rays Following Replacement Surgery to Be Unnecessary
According to a new analysis, the healthcare system is losing millions of dollars due to unnecessary x-rays following total knee replacement surgery. Experts from The Knee wrote that performing radiographs after surgery is common; however, there is not a lot of data supporting their usefulness. To better understand, Brigham and Women’s scientists examined specific data… Read more
Ultrasound Gel Recalled by FDA
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled eight lots of Eco-Med Pharmaceuticals ultrasound gel, with contamination being the culprit. Confirmed bacterial infections affected 15 patients who were in contact with the Eco-Gel 200 ultrasound gel. Unconfirmed cases are also suspected. Eco-Gel instructed customers to immediately halt the use of the gel and return… Read more
Radiology Practice Data Breach Sparks Cybersecurity Implementation
A recently issued press release from Express MRI informed patients of a data breach, in which personal information was in jeopardy. The hackers infiltrated the Express MRI security system through e-mail addresses, exposing clients’ name, home address, e-mail, date of birth, referring physician, body part scanned, and information regarding workers’ compensation or accident investigations. Express… Read more
Side Gigs Common Among Radiologists and Other Doctors During Pandemic
According to a recently published survey by Medscape, roughly 40 percent of radiologists and other physicians have side jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. These second gigs allow physicians to create an additional income stream or pursue a creative passion project. More than 2,500 United States physicians were surveyed about their jobs, how much they are… Read more
Low-Cost Imaging Reporting Can Help Lower Unnecessary Opioid Prescriptions
A new report published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology suggests radiologists can help drop unnecessary opioid prescriptions by using a low-cost reporting change. Healthcare providers on the West Coast have experimented with improving patient care by including pertinent information in their reports. Providers can notate treatment options that do not include… Read more
Richard Ernst, Inventor of MRI, Dies
Richard R. Ernst, a Swiss physical chemist, and Nobel Laureate, died on June 4. He was 87. Ernst won the Nobel Prize for inventing specific methods to analyze the chemical properties of atoms, which created the foundation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI. He helped improve MRI sensitivity, which was first tested in the 1940s… Read more
Radiation Could Be Less Damaging and More Effective with Trial Drug
An experimental drug has shown the ability to shield healthy tissue from radiation and enhance its ability to eradicate tumors. The study is published in Science Translational Medicine by UT Southwestern scientists. The pharmaceutical, named avasopasem manganese (AVA), has already been shown to prevent acute mucositis (a condition seen in head and neck cancer patients)… Read more
Low Doses of Radiation Might Help Severe Alzheimer’s Patients
A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showed remarkable improvements in behavior and cognition in patients with severe Alzheimer’s following low-dose radiation treatment. Morris Freedman, M.D., scientist at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute, and head of the neurology division, and senior author of the study said, “The primary goal of a therapy for… Read more
Cancer Patients Can Be Protected from Radiation Using a 3D-Printed Shield
Cancer patients could soon be donning a personalized protection shield giving them an extra level of armor against radioactive toxicity while undergoing radiation therapy. More than 200,000 patients in the United States report injuries to healthy tissue from radiation exposure annually. A large portion of the damage occurs in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract leading… Read more